Sailor Sayuri; Thank you very much! :D
Crystal of the Universe; :D Yes, it's really a lot - but I'm looking forward it! Thanks for your review *-*
CoolMushroom; I'm glad you found the new chapter then, anyway :D Thank you!
Myri78; Haruka will kill him, anyway - after reading this chapter, you'll know why, haha :D Thank you for your feedback!
iShini; She will remember :) Thank you!

This is a long one. :D Enjoy!


Chapter 11: Hanamizuki

The following days were better than expected. Instead of staying in her room all the time, Usagi spent a lot of time with the others downstairs in the living room and the kitchen – she kept silent most of the time, but just being with them was a big step forward. Seiya was entirely happy that Usagi got closer to them – or him? – and often tried to start a conversation with her. They talked for a few moments before she kept silent again. But that was okay. Slowly, it got better.

It was around midday when both of them were in the kitchen and did the dishes. Haruka went to her training for an upcoming motocross race, which she was finally able to enjoy since they defeated Galaxia, and Michiru had to go to the school of arts. So Seiya and Usagi were by theirself for the rest of the day.

By the way, Usagi was helping doing the dishes by her own choice. But when she was done with drying the dishes, she put the towel aside and askes: "Is it okay if I'll leave the rest to you?" She didn't look up to him, and her voice was still weakly – but not that sad anymore.

Seiya looked to her and nodded. "Yeah, sure! Thanks for helping me, anyway." He grinned a little bit.

A smile appeared on Usagi's lips for a second, too, before she turned around. "I'm upstairs." And she left.

He watched her until she was out of sight, then he sighingly dropped the towel aside and ran his fingers through his hair. Though Usagi really was on the road to recovery, he got worried every time she went to her room. But it's normal, isn't it? Everyone needs time for theirself now and then. So … There's nothing to worry about, is it? But Seiya did. No matter how many times someone would tell him it's okay, he would still worry about his Odango.

When he got finished with putting away the dishes, he went through the living room to the terrace. The soft roaring of the sea got him a little bit calmer. Certainly Usagi was hearing the roaring of the sea and it got her calmer, too. Maybe she even stood at her window and looked to the sea, just like Seiya did? Timidly, Seiya turned around and looked up to her window, but he couldn't see her. He sighed and dropped his gaze. He should stop worrying without a reason.

It has been a week now since she came her – and it was … good, indeed. So, maybe they could take another step? But … how? What could he do? Seiya turned around and went inside to the living room again. He sat down on the sofa, grabbed the remote and switched on the TV. Maybe they could watch a movie? – Well, it wasn't anything they haven't done already. He would have to think of something else when it's about taking another step. Though he wasn't going to watch TV with her, anyway, he browsed through the TV paper and catched the cinema advertising.

He just wanted to put the TV paper aside again, when he suddenly got an idea.


Usagi took some comics that were laying on her desk and sat down on her bed. Back then, those comics always took her mind off things. Back then … This 'back then' isn't that long ago. But still it seemed like years … She shook her head to stop thinking about that and opened one of the comics.

The sound of the roaring waves outside calmed her. Somehow she got the feeling that Seiya was out there … Somehow. For a moment she thought of getting at the window and look up if he's really there – but before she could to that this feeling disappeared again. Maybe it was just imagination.

Usagi made herself comfortable and started reading the comic. She tried reading a comic a few days ago, but soon the silent around her became unbearable and she went downstairs again. Though she has been alone for a while before she got here, she couldn't take this silent too long anymore …

But this time her comic seemed to be useful. Usagi even grinned about some funny lines – she didn't laugh, but just the grin on her lips brought her closer to the life she wanted to live again.

And she will live it again.

Just when she really got into this comic – which she knew inside out, anyway – there was a knock on her door. She just realized it when the door slowly opened and Seiya began to speak – excited but hesitantly at the same time.

"Um … Odango?"

Startled, she looked up. "Yes?" She put the comic aside and expectantly raised her eyebrows.

What she didn't know, but what Seiya had noticed at the very moment he looked to her, was that her eyes almost shined like it used to be. But when Seiya told her about his idea, the shine in her eyes disappeared for a moment again. "I just wanted to know if … well, if you'd like to go a little bit outside? Go to town? How about going to the cinema?"

Usagi blinked and dropped her gaze. Go to town? Now …? Suddenly, a feeling of panic came over her.

Seiya looked inward when the shine in her eyes he was really happy about suddenly disappeared. Has he gone to far …? Desperately, he bit his lips and searched for an answer to make up for his mistake.

But before he got one, Usagi looked up to him again. Her words were hesitantly and very unsure. "Which movie …?"

He caught his breath. He knew that Usagi didn't really want to go but forced herself to. And that wasn't Seiya's intention, absolutely not. "Odango, look – that was just an idea, we could watch a movie on TV instead or -" When her eyes suddenly shimmered he stopped.

Though she was scared to go out, Usagi slowly shook her head. "No, I … It's okay. Well, I mean …" She dropped her gaze again and shrugged her shoulders. "When would you like to go?"

Seiya frowned. Well … Okay, they could try it. If Usagi really was ready … Yes, they would try it. "Whenever you want to."

Usagi nodded. "I'm changing my clothes."


Slowly, the yellow car stopped. Haruka would kill him when she found out that he took her car without asking her. But whatever … It was for a good purpose, anyway. He got out of the car and just wanted to turn to the other side to open the door for Usagi – but she got out herself already. Frowning, Seiya watched her shutting the door, crossing her arms and dropping her gaze. He swallowed and went to her side. "Usagi, if … We don't have to do this. We can go back right away, if you want to."

She shook her head. "No, it's okay." She looked up to him and even smiled. It wasn't a declining smile, but a real one. She really smiled.

Surprised, Seiya blinked and smiled then, too. He really was happy that she seemed to be ready for it. Going to the cinema, going to town, going back to life. He nodded and offered her, grinning again, his arm.

Usagi hesitated for a moment, but smiled again then and linked her arm with his. It was just a friendly turn, wasn't it? That's what she thought.

And it was. There was enough time. Usagi had to get over Mamoru's … death before she could fall in love again. And she didn't yet. Unfortunately …

The 'couple' went towards the cinema.

"Which movie are we going to watch, anyway?", Usagi asked. Since she asked this question in her room she still hadn't get an answer.

Seiya shrugged his shoulders. "There's a new comedy … Wanna see it?"

Usage also shrugged her shoulders. "I guess …"

When they reached the cinema, they took a look at the movie placards. There were a lot of good movies, but first they needed to know which one will be shown soon. So Seiya went to the ticket office and asked about it, while Usagi followed the scent of popcorn. This is what she loved the most about cinemas – besides the movies, of course. She decided to get popcorn and drinks for them and joined the end of the queue.

Seiya turned away from the ticket office. "Thank you! – Odango, did you hear -" He caught his breath and looked around. "Odango …? Usagi?" She disappeared. Alarmed, he wanted to ran out of the building, when he finally saw her – and a big grin appeared on his lips. What else could he have expected? Shaking his head, he went to her. "Odango?"

She turned around. "Seiya! Well?"

Again, he caught his breath. Was that an imagination, or … did she act like she used to? Her behaviour was almost like ... it has been all the time back then. "Um ..." He shook his head for a moment to got clearer thoughts again. "Well, there are two movies at choice. 'Hanamizuki' and 'Cast Me If You Can' – I would choose the latter." He was sure that Usagi would choose this one, too, since it was a comedy. Usagi loved comedies.

"Hm ..." She looked to the movie placards and frowned. "Are you serious?"

Seiya blinked. "Wha- ... Why? It seems funny, doesn't it?"

"Maybe", Usagi answered. "But it seems totally boring, too. Let's watch the other one!"

"But ..." Seiya looked to the placard of Hanamizuki. A love story ... Why would Usagi want to see that? ... Oh well, she was a girl after all. But Seiya had a bad feeling about this. Sure, in the other movie there would maybe be a love story, too, but it would still be a comedy film. But this one ... "I'm not sure ..."

"But I am", she said amused.

Seiya sighed. But, wait – amused? He looked at her, and yes – there really were some signs of amusement in her expression. It took a load off his mind – and he couldn't do anything else but agreeing. "Okay, all right then. – Are you buying me a coke?"

Usagi nodded, still smiling.

"Thanks." He smiled, too, and turned around. "I'm going to buy the tickets."

Seiya and Usagi sat down on their seats in the cinema hall. They were lucky – though the tickets were almost sold out they got pretty good seats.

"That was close, huh?", Seiya said when the lights already turned off and the curtain opened.

Usagi nodded and took some popcorn out of its bucket. Of course she took the biggest portion, though they were only two persons. But well, it was Usagi.

Though she seemed to be easygoing, Seiya still was worried about the movie. But when it started he forgot his thoughts for a while and watched the happenings on-screen. He shot a glance to Usagi now and then, but she still seemed to be in a good mood and concentrated on the movie.

Relieved, Seiya leant back and concentrated on the movie then, too. He still preferred the other movie, but when Usagi liked this one, it was okay. Yet, at least. There were some love scenes, some sad scenes – and Seiya couldn't do anything else but looking to Usagi during those scenes. She seemed to take it calmly …

But actually, Usagi knew that Seiya was worrying about her. And of course she noticed his glances, too. That's why she tried and restrained herself for an easygoing expression. It wasn't a bad choice, after all – and at Haruka and Michiru's house they have watched movies like that, anyway. But here, in the cinema … There was nothing she could do to ignore certain scenes that affected her deeply. She couldn't take some magazine and leaf through it. Or look out of the window. Or leave the room. Here she was totally at the mercy of the happenings on the big screen in front of her, and that scared her.

Another love scene appared on-screen – and then, it was too much. Suddenly, Usagi jumped on her feet and ran out of the cinema hall.

Shocked, Seiya looked after her – and didn't think twice before he followed her. Damn, he should have known it. Well – he did know it. But she seemed so … determined, so … happy. Seiya could see Usagi entering the women's toilet. He sighed and went towards the door so he could wait there for her.

Time seemed to be endless.


Holding in a loud sob, Usagi rushed past two women who were washing their hands and bolt herself in one of the cabins. Unstoppable tears ran down her face, but … though she devastated this moment, she didn't regret taking this step. She didn't regret going to the cinema with Seiya – but her choice really wasn't that good. She should have listened to Seiya.

When she heard that the two women were leaving the toilet, she shyly left the cabin. She went to the sink and looked into the mirror – and frowned. Her reddened cheeks and tearfully eyes were the only signs that proved she was crying. But besides of that she didn't seem unhappy at all – well, at least not like she did a few days ago. Her skin wasn't that pale anymore, and her eyes weren't that … empty.

Realising that, she slowly got calmer again. She washed away her tears and took a deep breath before she got out of the toilet.

She startled for a moment when she noticed Seiya leaning against the wall. For a moment, he just gave her a look of commiseration, but then he smiled softly. "Hungry?"

Confused, Usagi frowned, but then she got it. She nodded and returned a weak smile.


Shortly afterwards they sat in a ramen restaurant and had dinner. Though Usagi's appetite was spoiled, she ordered a big portion of ramen noodles.

They both kept silent for a while, but then Seiya hesitantly began to speak. "It ... It makes me really happy you decided to go to town, after all."

When he started to speak, Usagi looked up to him.

"Really", he added with a smile.

She swallowed and nodded. "I'm ... I'm sorry, for -"

"No!" He shook his head. "It's okay, really. But ..." He grinned a little bit. "Next time I'll be choosing, all right?"

A smile appeared on Usagi's lips and she nodded. "All right." She looked down and continued eating.

"All right ...", he grinned. But then ... Perhaps it would be a big mistake when he would ask her what he was asking himself all the time. But the soft shine in her eyes motivated him – it showed that she really was on her way back to life. But still ... It would be just inappropriate if he'd ask his question now. He didn't even know if Usagi was ready to answer. Or even think about it ...

"Usagi?"

She looked up to him. "Hm?"

Seiya dropped his gaze for a moment. Should he? Should he not?

He did.

"Do you think you can ever fall in love again?"

Usagi caught her breath. For a moment she just stared at him, before she slowly avoided her gaze.

Seiya frowned. Maybe it really wasn't a good idea to ask this question ...

Though Usagi didn't seem to be burdened with this it.

But she didn't say anything.

And that said everything.