Until You Come Back to me Again

Chapter 3: Rebuilding

Rated PG-13

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon is not mine. Sailor Moon and all the characters within the series belongs to Naoko Takeuchi ... got to love that woman xD

Summery: (A/U) Usagi and Mamoru grew close, growing up together in the local orphanage, never wanting to each others side. But after Usagi gets into a life-altering accident and Mamoru is adopted, will the two reconnect after years of separation?

--

She didn't know why, but she continued to sit on the bench for a half hour after he walked away.

For some reason unknown to her, she felt like someone important to her walked away from her, somewhat similar to when she would have an argument with a former boyfriend or a close friend. Yet, she had only met this guy today, even if he left a lasting impression on her. She wished he would have stayed to talk with her, to discuss how he transitioned from living in a house full of kids to being with a family, if the family was good to him, stuff that she had to deal with.

There was one thing, though, that made her heart wrench the more she thought about it: the look in his eyes when she said she didn't know him. Unintentionally, she touched the base of her head behind her ear, recalling the accident and major memory loss. She knew basics, like her name, but everything concerning names of friends, parental figures, favorite foods, and major things that defined her were lost. She had to re-learn everyone's names, re-try foods to discover which her favorite were. It only took her about four months to fully recover, but she never had a flashback or a sudden regain of everything prior to the accident. For all she knew, this was a blessing, but it could also be a terrible misfortune. And that look in that guys eyes made her question the ongoing battle in her mind of good versus bad even more.

She stretched her legs, realizing she was pondering her thoughts for quite a while. Smiling, she decided that she was going to try something different; rather than just trying to get to know him, she was going to see if she could remember him. The look in his eyes made her think that he was once something special, maybe a brother-type figure, or even a possible relative. If he knew about her accident, then maybe he wasn't going to say in hopes of protecting her. Her thoughts were interrupted, though, as she heard her name being called out not to far away. Looking up, she smiled as she saw a lean, young man running to her, carrying a duffel bag while sporting a red jersey. His long black hair was pulled back into a pony tail trailing behind him, as he had a goofy grin stretched across his face. She stood up and faced him, then laughed as she called back to him:

"Seiya!"

--

Mamoru's lips were in a stiff frown for the duration of the afternoon. When he met up with his friends for a "study session," he didn't press that they should study; he just sat there and wallowed in his own thoughts. For a while, the guys were cheerful and played their Xbox 360, but after an hour they realized something was wrong if Mamoru wasn't pushing them to crack a book. Even when they asked him what was wrong, he just grabbed his bag and left the room, clearly flustered in his own thoughts. He ended up walking back to his dorm room and slammed the door, then briskly walked to his room, slamming that door as well.

He should have known that she wouldn't recognize him. The doctors said that the accident had a high chance of memory loss, and he thought he could come to accept that he may not remember her. Sighing, he raked his fingers through his hair, coming to terms that in the end, he never accepted that she did not remember her. Perhaps it was pathetic that he was so overworked about a close friend from ten years ago not knowing who he was, but his heart ached every time he thought about a life without her smiling face in it. Groaning, he fell back onto his bed, resting his head on his pillow.

'I guess if anything, I could try and befriend her,' he thought to himself, 'then maybe something will trigger. If fate brought her to me, I'll be damned if I'm going to lose her again.'

Sitting up, he smiled a determined grin as he opened his book.

"Enough with the wallowing. Now that I have a set plan, it's time to study!"

--

Usagi smiled as she rested her head on the upper-arm of her boyfriend, gently clinging to his arm as they walked to their morning class together. She shyly looked up at him, his blue eyes filled with a childlike wonder as he walked through the hallways of the University. Whenever she looked into his eyes, all she could think about was how the two of them met back in high school in Tokyo.

She laughed as she waved goodbye to her friend Minako, going the opposite way down the hallway over to her first day of advanced placement chemistry class. The majority of her friends couldn't begin to understand her fascination with chemistry; to them it was all memorization and annoyance. For Usagi, she loved being able to mix and create different formulas and experiment with them. Before she walked into her classroom, she stopped at a drinking fountain, leaning over to take a sip of water when a soccer ball slammed into the back of her head.

"HEY!" she shouted, turning around with an angry expression written in her eyes. She picked up the soccer ball and threw it down the hallway, bitter that some jock thought it would be funny to throw the ball at her head.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to… hey, what was that for?!" a male's voice boomed as he went to apologize, frowning at her childish behavior in throwing the ball down the hallway.

"Excuse me, but was that ball yours?" Usagi asked, crossing her arms.

"As a matter of fact, it was. And I meant to apologize, but now, I think you should apologize to me for throwing my ball down the hallway and go get it!" Seiya shouted.

"I don't think so! You hit me in the head! Why should I have to go get it?!" she shouted back, equally as loud as he was.

"Because it was an accident!"

"Yes, because balls are always being thrown around in the air, hitting people. It's so common to accidentally step in the way of a flying ball," she sarcastically muttered.

"Forget you," he said, cross, as he ran down the hallway, picking up the ball that rolled into a space between two vending machines.

She walked into the classroom, a few minutes late thanks to Mr. Jerk-Jock, and then sat down in the back, where the only available table was left. She opened her notebook and began to jot down the information on the board when the door opened, another student coming into class late. Her curiosity died down once she realized it was the jock holding the soccer ball under his arm, his face red from running to the classroom.

"You're late sir, you can park yourself in the back next to Ms. Tsukino," the teacher stated as he turned his back and continued to write on the board.

They both groaned as they had to sit next to one another, moving their chairs as far apart as possible. Over the months, they began to talk, and by the holidays, they were good friends. When Valentines Day rolled around, he asked her to the formal dance, and at the end of the night, the two were a couple.

She giggled as she realized that a silly childish act brought two complete strangers together, and she loved spending every second with him. He was on the college soccer team – a starter – and was a great defense player. She watched every game since August, always supporting him. He really did know how to complement her, and he made her very happy.

He looked down at her, his blue eyes sparkling as he laughed at her goofy grin. "What are you thinking about, Usa?"

"Oh, just reminiscing on the good old days," she laughed as they walked into their classroom, taking her seat in the back at the same table as Seiya.

"Oh, really?" he laughed as he pulled out a notebook, a pen, and his literature book. She smiled as she pulled out her class materials as well; she loved that the two of them attended school together. While she was a chemistry major, Seiya was a literature major. He was very bright when it came to Shakespeare, was a brilliant actor and singer, but she could see that his passion was truly soccer. She was about to reply when the professor came in, so she faced the board, opened her notebook, ready for today's lesson.

--

Mamoru was walking with Yuuichiro, Ryo, and Urawa, since he was on his way to the library, which passed by the soccer field. As usual, the three of them pestered Mamoru to join the team, which he declined, saying his studies took place.

"You do realize, Mamoru, that students with activities as well as studies impress corporate boards and people in high places," Yuuichiro stated.

"Yea, you look more rounded," Ryo laughed, another attempt to get Mamoru to give in.

"You guys, how many times are you going to try and persuade me?" he stated as he continued to walk.

"Mamoru, you're letting that beautiful talent go to waste!" Urawa said, "You would kick any rookie off the team in two seconds!"

"Yea, like that new freshman. He thinks he's so great since he's here on a sports scholarship," Ryo said as he rolled his eyes.

"Ryo, aren't you here on a sports scholarship?" Mamoru poked as his friends laughed.

"Oh shove –" The three guys stopped as they realized Mamoru had stopped walking with them, staring at a blonde girl. They snickered, realizing this was the same girl that spilled the coffee on him yesterday, but took a closer look, seeing that she was talking cute with another guy. The three of them watched intensely as they saw Mamoru's eyes full of jealousy. The petite blonde was running her finger up and down the chest of the rookie soccer player they were talking about moments ago, then looked back at Mamoru as fire erupted in his eyes as she stood on her tip-toes to kiss him goodbye. She then waved as she watched him run down into the field, as she walked up to the bleachers. Once Mamoru caught up to them, he continued to walk briskly away from the field.

"So, uhm, Mamoru, what was that all about?" Yuuichiro asked, breaking the ice.

"Nothing," he quickly responded.

"No, no," Urawa stated as he stood in front of him, stopping him, "Seriously, dude, what's with the intense look of death?"

"Back off," he harshly said.

"You know," Ryo said, "That's the new rookie I mentioned. Personally, if it was me, I'd beat him at his own game to win the fair lady." With that comment, he gave a knowingly smile and walked down to the field, where the guys followed, leaving Mamoru to stand there in thought.

'You know, Mamoru, that wouldn't be such a bad idea,' he thought.

"But I gave up playing soccer," he said to himself as he kept walking to the library.

'You gave it up for her, but there she is, watching someone else play the sport you once lived for.'

"No, I want to be a doctor, I need to study," he re-assured himself.

'There's nothing wrong with playing soccer, you fool, especially if she's going to watch.'

That thought shut him up.

'Perhaps it would help her remember you, seeing you play the sport you two always played together at the orphanage.'

He could have sworn he saw the words "SOLD" plastered in front of him as he turned around, headed towards the field, shouting for the guys to come back up to talk to him.

--

"Now, I know you guys are my three best players, but why should I let someone new come on to my team that I have never even heard of? I have many potential guys that I am planning to scout out, but you want me to take him?" Coach Tomoe said, crossing his arms as he looked at the three men.

"Coach, seriously, you've got to see him play," Ryo said. "He's better than the three of us put together!"

"He really is, coach. He never played because of some personal issue that none of us know of, but if he says he wants to play, then sir, you should give him a chance," Yuuichiro stated, backing Ryo up.

"What's his name again?" Coach Tomoe asked, giving in.

"Chiba Mamoru," Urawa said, grinning. "Trust me sir, you don't be let down."

"Is he here?" Coach Tomoe asked, "If he's going to be given a chance, I want to see now."

"I'll go get him sir!" Urawa said as he ran out of the locker room, where Mamoru happened to be waiting.

"Coach, he really deserves this. He's a fantastic student and your jaw will drop when you see him, and you know how good we are," Yuuichiro said, cockily. "If we think he's good, then he's got to be, right?"

"Calm down, boys, let me make the decision," Coach Tomoe said. Looking over, he saw a tall young man walking along side of Urawa, carrying a small duffel bag of his own. Immediately, he walked up to the coach, holding out his hand.

"Chiba Mamoru. Thank you for giving me this opportunity, coach," he said as Coach Tomoe shook his hand, impressed by the up front introduction.

"Nice to meet you too, Chiba-san. Now, go change and let me see what you've got to offer."

"Yes, sir!" Mamoru said as he walked off, a few moments later returning in a pair of shorts, cleats, and a Hiroshima Tech gym shirt.

"Hiroshima Tech, huh? Coach Tomoe asked, "I see how you know these three."

"Yes, sir," he nodded as he began to follow him out of the locker room and to the field. As he walked on to the grassy stretch of land, he felt overwhelmed considering he forbade himself to join a team for over ten years. His heart was racing as his stomach told him this was wrong, but when he looked over to see Usagi leaning over the railing talking to the black haired player, he felt adrenaline rushing through his veins. He smiled as he tightened the laces on his cleats, looked over at the coach, who rolled the ball over to him.

"Alright, Chiba, show me what you've got!"

Looking slightly over to the crowd, he saw Usagi look up for a moment, smiling in his general direction. Feeling more confidence than ever, he began to dribble the ball to the goal, going at a very fast pace without losing control, using kicks that Coach Tomoe hadn't seen his players use in years. When he saw Mamoru kick the ball into the goal post with such velocity and accuracy, he applauded. As Mamoru jogged back, Coach Tomoe placed his hand on his shoulder.

"Now, Chiba, that was impressive, but that doesn't mean you've won me over yet. Let's see how you do against a few players. Yuuichiro, Ryo, Urawa, you go against Mamoru." He looked around his field, seeing which players still hovered around after practice. "Seiya!" he shouted, "You and Taiki get over here! I need to borrow you for a try-out!"

Seiya and Taiki jogged over to the coach, where they were informed of being on Mamoru's team. "Now, boys, I want to see how Mamoru would do in center, Seiya, you defend, Taiki, you're his right wing. Now let's see how you can do with him."

"Yes, sir," they both said as they got behind Mamoru, snickering to themselves, thinking he wouldn't have a chance going against the three star players on the team. Once the coach blew the whistle, they saw as Mamoru quickly took control of the ball from the center ring, dodging Yuuichiro as he came right at him. He quickly passed it off to Taiki, who was impressed by the quick and accuracy of the pass, but was apprehensive once Ryo charged at him, stealing the ball from him. Mamoru quickly juggled his feet to turn around, noticing Seiya covering the goal, then watching as he quickly got the ball out of Ryo's possession and passed it over to Mamoru with terrible accuracy. Mamoru quickly ran to meet with the rolling ball, catching up to it, then gave a powerful kick into the goal, passing by Urawa into the net. He gave a triumphant smile as he looked over to Coach Tomoe, his clipboard in his hand, grinning a winner's grin, seeing stars in his eyes.

"Chiba, my boy, welcome to the team!"

--

Seiya walked away from the celebration, seeing the three juniors giving high fives to the new guy, rolling his eyes as he walked back over to Usagi, who was looking over at the group. He grabbed his towel from the bench, looking up at her.

"Ne, Usa, what is so interesting about that scene?" he asked, kind of irritated.

"Oh, nothing, Seiya, I'm just surprised he made the team that quickly. Usually try-outs are a lot harder and longer than that, aren't they?" she asked, putting her index finger to her chin.

"Yea, they do," he stated, "But he has the support of those three guys."

"Oh, I see," she said. "He did look really good out there, though."

"He's just back-up, I doubt he'll see any playing time," Seiya said, a hint of jealousy in his voice.

"What's wrong, Seiya?" Usagi asked as she looked at him packing his stuff up, swinging his duffel bag over his shoulder.

"Nothing," he quickly said, "I'm going to go change. I'll see you later."

Usagi frowned as she watched him walk away, but couldn't keep her eyes off of the guy who she couldn't get out of her mind celebrating making the team of the sport that she couldn't stay away from.