The morning came and Mamoru woke up in pain. His entire body was aching – it was like a bus had hit him – and he had a terrible headache. For the first in his entire life he was late for school. All the drinking and staying up late thinking did him no good whatsoever and he still had to go through an interview today.

Oh, right. The interview. He completely forgot about it. He was trying to get this internship in a really good hospital so we could finally quit his job in the not so good hospital he currently worked at. He applied for several places but this particular interview he had today was the most important one. He didn't tell anyone about it – not even Usagi. He was planning to surprise her.

He was planning to officially propose to her after he got a positive answer. And then his thoughts shifted to Usagi. And the ring he had got her – a new ring – but they were not together anymore.

How could he go on without her?

It was already too late to spend more time crying over what he had lost. It was time to put it all behind him and go back to his normal self after all. He had been always Mr. Pretentious; the quiet lonely guy who didn't let anyone in - it shouldn't be hard to go back to that mode.

He got ready to leave in no time and drove as fast as he could to school. He couldn't let all these emotional crap affect him. He didn't let himself grieve his parents' loss and he wouldn't let himself cry all day for some girl.

"Not some girl, you moron! It's Usako, for god's sake! Nothing in this world brings you joy like Usako does and now that you gave her up, you're going to be alone and miserable forever."

He sat at his usual desk trying hard to focus. His thoughts would shift from Usagi to the interview. He had to admit it – he was anxious. He was hangover and disturbed enough that he wasn't confident he would be able to impress anyone.

After what seemed to be a really long morning he decided to go to the Arcade for coffee and maybe spend some time with his only close friend – Motoki – who owned the space. Usagi has been really busy with her responsibilities as a student for once in her life that she would not go to the Arcade after school as much as she would in the past so he was confident he would not run into her.

"Hi Chiba! Good to see you!" – His friend said, happily as usual

"Motoki!" – He smiled briefly.

"I'll be back with your coffee… man, you look terrible!"

Motoki was very much like Usagi. Innocent, sweet, over friendly, full of life and would say whatever was going on in his head. He thought to himself as he sat at his usual booth that it was very weird that he was surround himself with this type of interesting people being himself so…boring!

"Okay, spit it out. What's up?" Said the man sitting in front of him holding an unusually big cup of coffee "Drink this. You look like you're about to fall asleep here. Tell me, what's wrong? Some new enemy I'd bet… but since Usagi-chan has been so quiet and upset lately I could also ask if everything's okay with you guys."

"Thanks" – he had a sip of the coffee – "Usagi should be fine. We are broken up. No need for the facial expressions, Motoki" – his friend's jaw had dropped almost to his knees – "We all knew that would one way or another."

"We who? I didn't know that! What did you do to her now?" Said the blonde man seeming very upset and somewhat confused.

"How come everyone thinks I'm this big jerk? Everyone seems to believe I would do something to deliberately hurt Usagi."

"Sorry, it's just too hard to imagine Usagi-chan willingly breaking your heart."

"She did break my heart." He said very seriously "Although not willingly I'd say."

He sighted. He didn't want to talk about Usagi right now but he knew Motoki wouldn't leave him alone until they had this conversation.

"Look Motoki… I love Usagi. And she loves me. But she also loves someone else and I can't stand to share her love with anyone else. I will still help her as Tuxedo Kamen if she needs my protection but I want her to have her happiness and if it means that she needs to be apart from me, then I should just leave her alone. I am tired of wasting her time."

"But you were meant for each other…"

"Maybe we weren't. Maybe she needs to figure out herself if her place it's truly with me". Sighs…

"Did you drink last night?"

"Why?"

"You look like you have been drinking. Do you have a headache? Do you need some aspirin?" – That was Motoki's way to be helpful and not keep bugging his friend who was clearly suffering enough and didn't need to keep discussing that subject.

"Sure. I have to be on top of my game today."

"Busy day?"

"Important day." He smirked "Got an interview at the hospital I've always wanted to work at."

"That's exciting! I'll be back soon" – said Motoki leaving the booth.

Mamoru had another sip of his coffee when he heard the bell ringing announcing someone was entering the place. He didn't care to look.

Some instants later he felt a hand on his shoulder and turned his head to face whoever had touch him. He saw a beautiful blonde standing there looking really angry. She had opaque blue eyes and a very light blonde hair and looked like she could be Usagi's cousin. A really tall girl was following Mina close. She had long brown hair held in a ponytail looking very embarrassed and somewhat uncomfortable.

"A-ha!" – Said the blonde – "I have been looking for you for days now but even more so after last night. And here you are. Lovely. We need to talk. Oh well, I need to talk, you need to listen." – She sat in Motoki's old spot. The brunette waved and looked down.

"What now, Minako?" He tried to look relaxed

"How could you break up with Usagi? Are you out of your mind? Did you forget all about what you guys mean to each other and your freaking duty as a soldier? I am so tired of this. This year has been crazy I know. But you're crazier if you think you're doing the right thing. You really are. And maybe we should call the ambulance and have you be put away for being insane cause that's obviously a case of insanity."

Knowing Minako she would go on and on. He knew the girl could talk non-stop and even say hurtful things without realizing it. He'd let her talk as much as she wanted.

"So… are you getting back to Usagi, yes or sure?"

"She didn't even tried to change my mind and she knows that I'm right Minako, so why does that bother you so much? And don't say that it's because we were born for each other and all the destiny stuff. You know she was happy when Seiya was around and she would be even happier if he stayed here."

"Mamoru, Usagi was very unhappy when you weren't around" Makoto, the brunette friend, said firmly.

"Look… I would be crazy if I didn't admit that she suffered and missed me every single day but she also found someone that made her go through this whole situation and helped her with that. And if they love each other so much, they may as well just be together already!"

"Bull crap!" – Said the brunette. Motoki had come back with the aspirin and observed the group carefully.

"If they love each other so much, they may as well just be together already" – repeated the blonde "You're saying that you think they love each other more than you and Usagi-chan love each other…? Or… more than YOU love Usagi-chan?"

"Whoa! That's low, Minako-chan!" Motoki interfeared

"Don't you ever doubt my love for Usagi." – Said Mamoru dangerously feeling his eyes burning with anger.

"Well I don't doubt your love for Usagi, Mamoru" – Said Makoto, the brunette. – " I doubt that you have the guts to love her and go through all you have to go through to prove this love!"

Mamoru got up and coldly looked at the girls. He felt like cursing, calling them bad names, and felt like he was being possessed with anger.

"You're right." – Said him sarcastically. "You ladies have a great day. Mine is already full of joy. Thanks for the kind words. I shall leave now." And without waiting for a response, he left.

Motoki tried to reach him to give him the aspirin but he was gone in seconds. The blonde man faced the two girls, not believing what had happened.

"That was cold and mean, girls! He's been suffering enough…"

"He has to suffer for his own good! Maybe then he'll realize he's acting like a runaway and he'll grow up and face his feelings. He's jealous. He doesn't want to deal with the fact that Usagi might have some feelings for Seiya and that they may not be fully gone for a while which means he would have to fight too hard and keep her interested. It's too much work. So he's breaking up with her just so he won't have to deal with not being in control for once. Not having Usagi blindly loving him and only him it's driving him crazy and he rather runaway from their relationship. Easy for him to do that but he will regret it. "

"You're good Minako…" Motoki was impressed by what the girl has said. It made so much sense now. It was so Mamoru! His psyche was sometimes too much for Motoki's mind.

"Minako is right. It's all his issues with himself. He's scared of the competition. Never thought Mamoru-san would be afraid of competing with someone but I guess that when it comes to feelings and emotions he's clueless and scared, much of a coward. He'll regret it sooner or later, you know?" Pointed Makoto

"He'll regret is soon enough" – Winked Minako

"What do you have in mind?"

"Well, they don't call me the Sailor of Love for nothing, right?" – She smiled making a
"V" sign with her fingers. "I know EXACTLY what to do. Trust me, this is good stuff."

Mamoru couldn't be more exhausted after he got home. He lied in his bed still wearing the same clothes he had on this morning trying hard to get some rest. The interview had been great – way better than he thought it could be. Several doctors who owned the hospital together had interviewed him and he seemed to impress each one of them.

"That may be my chance" - he thought – "Of finally being worth something in this life." He fell asleep from exhaustion.

Usagi was almost falling asleep herself when someone called her from downstairs.

"Usagi, Ami's asking to speak with you, she says it's urgent."

She seemed puzzled. She looked at Luna who seemed as confused as she was with Ami's presence at this time of the evening.

"Huh…mom…let her in!"

"Okay!"

She heard Ami's footsteps and soon the blue haired girl got in Usagi's bedroom.

"Hi Ami-Chan! Is everything okay? Is there a new enemy?"

"Usagi-chan I just had dinner with my mom and she told me something that I wasn't sure you knew yet… I guess you don't. And I was around here so I thought I should tell you in person…"

"Well?" Usagi said, "What happened?"

"My mom's hospital interviewed some people for a new job opening and my mom and the other doctors were really impressed by someone. They were initially offering an internship with no strings attached for the future but now they really want to invest in this person. Basically, they love Mamoru-san. They're even thinking of hiring him right when he's done with school if he goes well which they think we'll most certainly do. I just thought you'd like to know this."

"That's great for him, Ami!" She said feeling genuinely proud of him "But I didn't even knew he had this interview."

"Really? It was booked for weeks now my mom said. Maybe he wanted to surprise you…" She said and than looked down knowing Usagi would most likely cry.

Usagi couldn't hold back a sigh.

"Why did you have to come here and tell me this, Ami-Chan.?"

"Well, I didn't have to come here but I thought that you would rather want to hear it from me before you heard it in the streets…So maybe you can be the first to congratulate him…you know…" Ami blushed lightly and smiled to her friend.

"You're right… maybe I should congratulate him."

"Alright!" – Smiled Ami

First thing in the morning: Usagi would find Mamoru and congratulate him and maybe they could have breakfast together and who knows what else?

Her friend left and she went back to bed feeling as if that was a good chance to make emends and fix the whole situation.

She dreamed about being rescued by Tuxedo Kamen from a youma – the enemy from when they met. Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen exchanged passionate kisses and she begged

"Would you please tell me who you really are?"

The man lifted his mask and to her surprise Mamoru's was not the face behind the mask.

She woke up very disturbed by the dream. Still she managed to wake up really early and got dressed carefully. She was going to meet Mamoru at his apartment building main entrance and offer to have breakfast together and then congratulate him.

She felt satisfied with the plan and she felt confident until she opened the house door and screamed in surprise.

"What…w-what are you doing here?"

The man in front of her turned to face her and smiled.

"Odango! I was sure you wouldn't wake up so early I'm glad I got hear just in time to see you!" – And Seiya smiled openly – "I missed you" He said holding her really close.

Usagi seemed confused but very pleased to see Seiya.

"Still…what are you doing here? I saw you leaving to your planet!"

"I had unfinished business here, Odango." He smirked.

"What unfinished business?"

"Well…hm…" He blushed vividly "You…"

She couldn't help but feel her heart melting a little bit.

"Would you have lunch with me later, Odango? I feel like I really need to talk to you."

She agreed thoughtlessly. They talked about Taiki and Yaten for a while and about his career as a musician – since he was one in his human form.

He offered to walk her to school and then she realized that she was getting pretty late to see Mamoru. And she felt her heart aching.

"I…am sorry… Seiya… I rather go by myself. But I'll see you later, okay?"

And she ran, hoping she would still make in time to catch Mamoru on his way to school.

She didn't.

Mamoru noticed he had a message in his answering machine and played while drinking his morning coffee. It was Ami.

"Hi, Mamoru-san! I hope I am not waking you up…I…hm…I heard you had an interview with my mom last night so I though that I could…hm…invite you to lunch…I feel like we could talk since I am hoping you'll get this job and I consider you my friend. I hope we're still friends. Are we? Well, I hope you can manage to meet me at that Italian restaurant by the Arcade around 1? Oh and I'm sorry about Minako's behavior and… let's talk later…I should probably get going and…" beeeeeep

He was now waiting for Ami to show up glad he'd accept her invitation since he could really use some company these days and he knew she wouldn't push him to talk about Usagi.

He greeted the girl with a pretty smile on his face and she was blushing violently which he thought was weird since they had went out for lunches by themselves many times before. They had a lot in common and could talk easily about many things such as books, med school and music. One other thing they had in common: they hated to talk about feelings.

They chose what they were going to have and talked a little about the interview. Ami seemed a little disturbed and distant and he wasn't sure what was going on but felt little inclination to ask.

Mamoru told her he was hoping he'd get the job (Ami didn't tell him her mom said he would get it for sure) and talked a little about school when suddenly Ami saw his face turning pale and his eyes widening. She turned around and saw Usagi getting in the restaurant followed closely by a young men with really long and dark hair very well dressed making each and every girl/woman in the restaurant sight loudly.

The man was guiding her to a table, his hands on her waist.

"Well, she really didn't take much time, did she?" Said Mamoru without realizing he said it out loud.

A/N: Oh my! Oh my oh my oh my! I'm nervous! But that was an interesting chapter to write. Wasn't sure what way to go so I kinda let the characters decide for me if y'all know what I mean. Hope you enjoy my story. Keep R&R! I can't wait to know what's going to happen next time I write.

Peace, love, empathy and what not,

Bea (that's my name btw)