Chapter Thirteen: Separation

"Trowa?" A soft voice spoke as a blonde opened a door to a room. The door led to the room she knew Trowa occupied when he was around. This was a room where the brunet would stay if he had a lot on his mind. She noticed that the room was almost dark. If not for the little light that seeped thru the blinds the room would be completely dark. "Trowa?"

She paused when she heard shifting on her right side and turned to see a figure siting up from a recliner. "Usagi?" The deep voice from the man named Barton resonated in the quiet room.

"Can I come in? I wanted to speak to you about something?"

"Yes, come in."

The petite woman closed the door behind her and switched on the light. In a brighter lighting she noticed that next to the recliner that Trowa sat on was a table that had a picture of her friend standing on it. She sighed softly before she made her way to him. "How are you? I haven't seen you in a while. Are you alright?" Crystal blue eyes looked over her friend with concern. Trowa was quiet by nature but in the last five weeks he has been more reclusive than normal.

The brunet studied the blonde woman for a while, calculating why she would be here. Yes, he was close to her and the other girls but not to the point where they sought each other out for no reason. He watched as the blonde took a sit next to the recliner he sat on. He saw in her gaze concern and worry and brought down his barriers a tad bit. "I'm alright Usagi."

"I'm glad." She whispered. "I won't waste your time so I will get straight to the point." She spoke with a firmer voice. "We both know that Makoto might be leaving, as happy as I am that she is doing something I know she is hurting…"

"Usagi."

"I want to know your reasons of helping her Trowa." Usagi quickly asked cutting straight to the point after Trowa had cut her off. "I know it may seem as it's none of my business, but Makoto is more than just my friend. I had to watch her suffer unnecessarily for years in that marriage and the process of the divorce almost killed her. I know Quatre loves Makoto and because of his foolishness they are both suffering." She paused to take a deep breath. "I don't want her to suffer anymore. What are your intensions Trowa? Why are you always there?"

The man sighed as he sat deeper in his chair. He was expecting one of the girls to confront him about his feeling, just not Usagi. With a resolve he sat up straight and looked in the eyes of the blonde that had the courage to confront him. He will tell her what she needed and wanted to know.

Green eyes gazed out of a window overlooking the silhouette of Tokyo. The skies were cloudy and had the clear signs a storm was brewing. This is her element. A sigh left her slightly coated pink lops as she leaned into the chair she sat in.

"Mako?" A voice called out as a figure walked closer to the brunette.

Makoto turned her emerald gaze to the direction of the voice. She had agreed to meet Quatre's sister. The older woman had called her last week to talk, she had almost declined the invitation thinking that Quatre would know and tag along, but Aden as if reading her thoughts, promised that Quatre was not aware that she was even placing this call and if Makoto agreed to meet her she will not tell Quatre. Hesitantly Makoto agreed. "Aden" She spoke softly as she watched the blonde sit opposite from her.

Aden smiled solemnly at the brunette, "thank you for meeting with me Mako. I didn't know if you would meet with me."

The recently divorcee sat up and folded her hands around the now cooling cup of the tea she ordered. "It's alright." She responded. "Thank you for calling me." She smiled softly at her once sister in law.

"I feel so terrible Mako. The two of you…" as she paused to gather herself a sigh escaped her red lips. Blue eyes gazed at the woman in front of her and couldn't help feel pained for her. The more she looked at Makoto the more she felt uncomfortable. It was the discomfort that came with the knowing she helped put them together. Her eyes took in the site of Makoto and she thought she looked terrible. There were no signs of the fun-loving woman she use to know. Although several months had past her eyes were dull and her hair lost its shine. This was not the woman she used to know. It just told her just how much she loved her brother, even after six months of the break up Mako looked at lost. Aden knew that she had moved to a different location per the conversation she had with Usagi and Quatre, but she did not know where the brunette moved to.

"Mako, I know I'm one of the last people…"

"No!" Makoto quickly cut off Aden's sentence knowing what she was going to say. "You are not. It's just been hard these past months as you know."

"I know Makoto. Quatre…" She paused before she continued, "Is as bad as you…if not worst. He's locked himself in his office once he realized you didn't want anything to do with him."

Makoto's hands tightened around the cup, her eyebrows coming together in a frown. "I don't want to hear about him Aden." She whispered the warning.

"I'm sorry." Feeling contrite Aden looked elsewhere as a sigh left her lips. "It won't happen again." She spoke as she brought back her gaze to the woman in front of her. "What have you been doing with yourself?"

Makoto blinked a couple of times as she stared at her tea cup. She shifted her eyes to the storm outside it was a minute before she responded. "I'm leaving." She whispered. Her gaze turned back to her once sister-in-law, who was observing all her actions. She was once the closest in law she had. She smiled a little bit at her. "I'm leaving; I got into a culinary school. Trowa and Rei insisted that I look into it again since cooking was something I use to do before the wedding."

Aden, putting aside her feelings for her brother, smiled encouragingly. "You were always a good cook. I'm sure with the training you will become the best out there."

The Brunette blushed, "I doubt that Aden, it's been a long time since I have touched a pot; since I got married."

Aden looked at her sadly for a second before she smiled at her once more, "Despite what you think Makoto, I know you will be a sensation. I love my…brother," she hesitated, being careful not to mention his name, "but I love you too. I want you to succeed. Who knows maybe you will meet someone there."

Makoto frowned with such intensity that it scared Aden, "I will never trust a man again!"

Aden looked at her sadly while swallowing uncomfortably. She didn't approve of what Quatre did and she will continue to tell him. She would be the first, irrespective of Quatre being her brother, to encourage Makoto to open up to another man. She knew of Trowa. She had seen the looks he gave Makoto and how he slightly separated himself from Quatre. She wasn't blind to Trowa's affection to Makoto before her once sister in law married her brother. She wondered how things would have played out if they, Quatre's sisters, didn't plan this marriage. Would Makoto have fallen in love with Trowa instead or would she still have chosen Quatre? She didn't know, but this time around she would not push for Makoto to choose. She would simply support her as she would her brother.

Aden was aware that both Makoto and Quatre both loved each other; she just wished that Quatre would be more aggressive in going after Makoto. She understood that he was trying to be careful but she strongly believed that if he continues to be on the off side he would lose his chance completely.

Aden slowly and carefully approached her, "Ko-chan, what if the man loves you dearly and you love hi…"

"Absolutely not!" Came the cold and sharp reply. "I'd rather become a nun."

Aden's concerned eyes looked on at the hurting woman and realized just how much Quatre had really hurt her. It was evident in her response. Instead of pressing her on the topic Aden asked her, "do you know what you want to do after your studies?"

Makoto smiled gratefully at the change of subject. She could feel her heart beating so fast at the mention of entering into another relationship. She had asked Trowa to give her time but she wasn't sure she could take that step. She wasn't sure if she could love another man the way she loved her husband. She just couldn't do it. To feel the humiliation and the pain all over again it wasn't worth it. It was just too risky and it wasn't a risk she wanted to take again. She pushed back the thoughts of Trowa and her love for her ex-husband and focused on the woman in front of her. "I plan on opening a café or a restaurant, but I'm not sure yet Aden."

All she wanted to do was to immerse herself in cooking. She loved every aspect of it. She was in her own world when she was cooking with the stove or baking with the oven. It made her alive and watching people satisfied and enjoying the meal she cooked, thrilled her.

With that thought her decision was finalized. She will go to Rome and learn all she could. She will make something of herself, something that she could be proud of. Maybe even start anew and build a life of her own…Tokyo as much as she loved it, it had too many bad memories for her.

"You said you were leaving?" Aden's question brought her back to reality, back from her thoughts.

"Yes." Came the firm response. "I am leaving, I…" she paused turning her gaze back to Aden. "I don't know if I will be back, I'm not sure I will return Aden."

Makoto could clearly see the surprise on Aden's face when she uttered her last statement.

"What?" The pretty blonde's face fell, blue eyes slightly losing hope as she stared at her ex-sister in law. "I see" she whispered, she lowered her eyes before quickly raising it back up to meet emerald ones. "The chances of bumping into Quatre are greater if you came back." Even though she was hurt knowing that this might be the last time she sees the brunette she smiled. "I'm sure the girls are there for you Mako, but please know that I am too."

"Thank you Aden." Makoto smiled softly.

"When do you leave?"

"In three days."

Usagi came out of the room she sat in with Trowa. Closing the door behind her she leaned her back to the door and rested her head on it looking towards the roof. A sigh that was filled with tension and worry left her pink coated lips. Her mind racing with what Trowa had told her.

"I love Makoto Usagi. She is the only woman that I have ever thought of since I saw her the first time…" was one of the many confessions Trowa told her. "I didn't say anything because two weeks later I found out she is engaged to Quatre…" came another confession. She sighed and bowed her head. "Quatre is a brother to me…but in these recent times I find myself wanting to be with her more."

She pushed herself away from the door and walked towards the hallway of the house leading to the outside. "If she agrees to me Usagi, nothing will stop me from loving her." Opening the door leading to outside and closed it behind her.

What is she going to do? She asked herself as she walked towards her car, knowing that Mamoru was waiting for her. She opened the door and sat into the front passenger side.

"It took longer than we thought," was the quiet statement from her husband.

Resting her head on the window, Usagi stared at her reflection. "Mamo-chan, this is deeper than we thought." She turned to look at him as he was pulling out of the driveway of Makoto's new place. "I feel like if this is handled wrongly a bigger mess will be on our hands."

Mamoru looked at her reflection on the review mirror before turning his gaze to the road. "Usako, let's just support and encourage Mako-chan. I don't want us to play matchmaker or to tell someone not to love. Let it play out naturally and hope everything thing will right itself."

"Yes," She leaned in to her chair as her hand held on to Mamoru's hand. "We will support her with whatever decision."

(Two days later)

"Did you hear what I said?" Came the concerned yet irritated voice of Duo as the handsome brunet stood in a room facing his friend who had his back to him. The room was an office space and was furnished with expensive furniture. The man that the question was directed to sighed as eyes blinked back the shock of the news.

Quatre turned to face Duo with a surprise look on his face. "She's leaving?"

"Yes." Duo responded as he took a step closer to his friend. "I just heard it from Ami. The girls are gathering in her house tomorrow to wish her well. Quatre you have to act now."

"I…I can't." The shorter man whispered as the man in question looked down away from Duo. His eyes covered by his blond bangs.

"Look Quatre, you don't have time for this anymore." Duo responded angrily. "You are about to lose her completely, don't you get it?" The man's brown eyes narrowed in anger and impatience as he stared at the man that in so many ways was not the same person he knew. He sighed as he ran his hand thru his hair. "Quatre, for the past 6 weeks you have done nothing but lock yourself in this office, the weeks before that it was your house! When are you going to talk to Makoto? Didn't you hear me the first time I came into this room?" He grabbed a hold of Quatre's shoulder and shook him. "I said she is leaving and there is NO return date!"

Forcefully, Quatre removed himself from Duo's grasp at the same time yelling, "I know!" The brunet kept quiet as he watched his friend hold himself together from the fear and pain. "I heard you Duo, but I cannot see her. I…I took so much from her. She deserves better." The blue eyed man gazed sorrowfully at his friend before he turned his gaze away. "She deserves better Duo. I hurt her too much."

Clenching his hands Duo reframed himself from shaking his friend again. "What she deserves Quatre, is a man that loves her and you do!" He paused to calm himself down. "What I don't understand is why you are not going after her and begging her not to leave you? People make mistakes Quatre, stupid mistakes, dumb mistakes…all kind of mistakes, but everyone deserves to have a second chance." He placed both his hands on his friend's shoulders, but this time in a softer manner. "I know she loves you too Quatre and I know she will take you back. Just go to her."

"Duo…" Blue eyes stared into brown ones. "I will, but not now."

Duo stared at his friend for a long time before allowing his hands to fall. "I hope so Quatre, I really hope so." As he said that he could help feel that Quatre was giving Trowa the lead. He felt bad for his friend. Both he and Wufei had discussed this at length, both knowing that Trowa had always had an interest in Makoto, but out of loyalty to his friend he never made his intentions known. Now there was nothing to hold the man back and Duo had a feeling that Quatre knew of this.

"He didn't come." She whispered as she watched Duo the last man walk out of her house. Behind her Mina and Aden stopped their conversation and looked at the brunette. They had heard her whisper and were sure that she had the intention of no one hearing it. They looked at themselves, before looking back at the brunette. Aden silently cursed her brother as she watched Makoto obviously yearning to see her ex-husband.

"Mako come over here!" the voice of Rei called out from the kitchen.

They watched the brunette walk away. As she was walking away Aden's phone rang. Quickly the blonde took out her phone from her pocket and looked at it hoping the caller would be her brother. She didn't know whether to cry or laugh when she saw Quatre's name flash on her screen. Quickly she answered the call, "Where are you?"

"How is she Aden?" Came the quiet voice of Quatre.

Aden frowned, her attention completely on him and not on Mina who was close to her. "She is disappointed that she didn't see you. I'm disappointed that you didn't come Quatre. What are you thinking?"

Mina who had bent down to grab her drink quickly shot up when she heard what Aden said. "That's Quatre?" She whispered harshly as she looked at Aden.

The older sister of Quatre nodded as she listed to what Quatre was saying. "I saw your message Aden and I came but I couldn't make myself knock on the door. Is she really leaving tomorrow?"

"Yes Quatre she is." Placing her hand on her forehead she sighed. "You should just come in. are you around?"

"I'm outside. I'm about to leave."

"What?" Aden turned to look at Minako. "You are….Where?" She pointed to the kitchen and whispered to get Makoto, "across the street?"

Minako frowned not understanding.

Aden mouthed to her, "Get Mako and take her outside," Before she turned her focus back on Quatre trying to keep him from going anywhere. She watched as Minako ran to the kitchen and drag Makoto out, asking her to follow her outside to get something from her car. Aden closed her eyes hoping her interference would not back fire but aid them.

(Outside)

"Minako-chan," Makoto called out as she was able to pull her hand away from Minako's.

"Mako come on. I think it's in my car." The blonde stated as she quickly jogged to her car that was parked on the side of the road.

Makoto sighed as she placed her hands in her pocket and slowly walked towards Minako's car. As she did she noticed movement on the opposite side. She turned to look and was frozen in place. On the opposite side, she saw Quatre on the phone with his back turned to her. She watched as he continued talking to someone on the phone.

"I'll see you when you get home, Aden." Quatre said as he turned off the phone and turned to walk away from Makoto's house.

"Quatre?"

He stopped when he heard his name and turned to look into confused blue eyes of Minako; behind her he could see Makoto watching him. "Mina." He whispered while staring at the brunette behind her.

"Um…" The blonde looked at the two before turning her gaze at Quatre. "I'm going to go inside." She whispered. She turned around and looked at Makoto silently assessing whether to leave her friend alone with her ex-husband. The green eye beauty locked gaze with Minako and nodded slightly. She took that as an approval to quietly walk to the house. As she reached for the door she sent out a silent pray hoping that everything will be ok. Looking behind her one final time to gaze at the two individual she took a step inside with a final resolve to leave them alone. Inside she saw the girls gathered and once they noticed another presence they all turned to look at her. Her only answer to the questions she knew that were swimming in their heads was a weak smile on her lips.

For a long time the two just stared at one another, neither not knowing what to say. Quatre although nervous and anxious stood upright and looked at his ex-wife who he hadn't seen in almost a year. She had lost some weight but she still looked beautiful. Clearing his throat, Quatre placed his hands in his pocket and took a step forward. "Mako," His voice was almost a whisper but held firm. He watched as she took her gaze off of him and held on to her right arm. "Mako…" He called out again.

"It hurts to hear you call me that now." The brunette whispered, loud enough to be heard. She looked at the blond in front of her and took a step back. "I've always wanted you to speak to me informally, intimately…"

"I'm sorr…"

"It's too late." She cut him off as her eyes narrowed. "I don't need your apology..."

"I'm not apologizing because you need it Mako, I'm apologizing because I know I did wrong by you." He spoke quickly knowing that this was his last chance. "I am so sorry for the hurt and the humiliation I caused you Mako. Please believe me that I never really intended to hurt you. I was just so angry with my sisters that in my anger I didn't think…"

"No you didn't think Quatre." She spoke harshly. "Do you know how it felt knowing that my husband was in bed with another woman? Or that a doctor had to tell me what I already know, that I am still a virgin after five years of marriage all because you wanted out? Or the fact that you never once encourage me or spoke to me…you…" Tears built up in her eyes as her right hand closed into a fist. "Or when said woman comes to tell me that I can have you back after she was done with you." The gathered tears poured out of her eyes. "Do you know the kind of damage you have done?"

"Mako…" Quatre sadden and guilt filled, with tears in his own eyes, looked at the brunette who he knew was trying to hold everything in so not to break apart in front of him. "please…"

"I'm leaving." She quickly stated as she furiously wiped her tears from her face. Taking deep breaths to calm down she stared at him with determination not to cower. "I'm leaving and I wish you all the best Quatre."

"Mako please," He quickly took steps forward when he noticed her turning away from him. "I don't want to lose you. Please!" He called out to her as he tried to grab on to her shoulder. He missed it as she had pivoted quickly to face him. With the anger and the hurt in her she glared at him and said, "you lost me the moment I received that letter."

She pushed away from him when she noticed his proximity. "I tried to get you to see reason! I tried!" She shouted, angry tears falling from her eyes. "But you didn't want to see…"

"I was coming back to you!" He shouted. His eyes filled with desperation and hurt, he paused for a brief moment when he noticed the surprised look on her face. "That day we both received the letters, I was on my way to see you. I had made up my mind to be with you. Please Makoto, please give me another chance."

Makoto stared at him with pain and hurt while silent tears fell from her eyes, "It's too late!" A sob left her lips. "I have nothing to give you."

"Mako," He took a step forward. As he did Mako turned and ran back to her home, leaving Quatre alone in the night. "Don't leave me." He whispered into the night. A silent tear falling from his eye.

Author's Note: Hi Everyone! It took me a while to write this chapter. I'm not sure if I like it, but I am working on the next. There should be two more chapters left before Silent Tears is finish! Yay!

Hopefully you like it. please review and tell me what you think!

Kourui