Chapter 2

"Finally over!" Usagi exclaimed cheerfully to herself as she headed towards home after a long day of school. In her head she was already planning what videogame she would be playing and what snack she would be eating to it. She'd narrowed it down to a choice between chips and chocolate when a sudden noise made her stop in her tracks. Something struck her hard in the back and she fell forward.

What's going on?! Usagi looked around for her attacker. She spotted a shadowy figure a few paces ahead of her but was struck again before she could get a good enough glimpse. This attack hit her head and she immediately felt dizzy from the force of it. This is no good, it's too fast! Suddenly the figure appeared right in front of her, Usagi reached for her brooch to transform, only to realize she couldn't move a muscle. Closing her eyes, she braced herself for the final blow, then everything went black.

When Usagi came to again she was disoriented. There was no trace of whatever had attacked her, and it didn't seem that much time had passed. Why hadn't it killed her? Vague images of a black ponytail and someone shouting her name floated in her mind, but she couldn't make sense of them. Still sore from the attack Usagi got up and slowly made her way home. Once at the house she immediately went up to her room and collapsed on her bed.

"A break?" Usagi blinked. "I don't understand… You don't want to be with me anymore?"

Christmas day was coming to its end and Mamoru was home for the holidays, something she'd been looking forward to since she hadn't seen him since the summer, but this wasn't the conversation she'd been expecting.

"No, Usako, that's not what I'm saying." Mamoru took her hands in his. "I love you" he assured her.

The use of her pet name loosened the lump that was forming in her throat, but she was still confused.

"Then what is this break that you're talking about?"

Mamoru took a deep breath. "We've seen the future. Our future. We know we'll rule Crystal Tokyo as Queen Serenity and King Endymion with a beautiful daughter by our side. That's what we're meant to do and that's great and all that. But that's then. I mean... I know we were reborn to find each other and get a second chance. But this life. The life of Usagi Tsukino and Mamoru Chiba. That still happened. They are as big of a part of our lives as the past is."

"So, what are you saying?"

"What I'm trying to say is that we should get a chance to live our lives the way we want to. The way we might have done if we never knew about our destiny."

Usagi processed this for a moment."What would that mean for us?"

"I really like my life in America. Studying medicine, my friends and everything else there. I need to really commit to it."

"And you can't do that with me?"

Mamoru sighed "I just… I can't keep coming back here and that's not fair to you."

Usagi swallowed, trying hard to keep her voice steady "So what do you want me to do?"

"I want you to live your life. Your life. Do the things Usagi wants to do. Isn't there anything that you have wanted to have or do but felt you couldn't because of our future?" The image that flashed before her mind was not something that she could admit to him. But Mamoru saw enough of the look on her face to know he was right. He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Think about it."

Usagi nodded. "Okay, I'll think about it."

"What will you be thinking about?"

"Huh?" Sleepily she opened her eyes and was greeted by a familiar face.

"You said you'd think about it. What could it be? Thinking of dumping that prince of yours and running away with yours truly?"

Usagi flushed, her eyes shot wide open, realizing she really was awake and in her room were none other than her long lost friend.

"Seiya!" She flew back on her bed in surprise. "Why are you in my room?!"

"Why hi to you to, Odango. Oh yes I missed you too, so good to see you as well." He flashed her a signature grin.

"Well of course it's good to see you.. But why are you in my room? How did you get here? Is there any trouble? Kinmoku… is everyone okay?"

Seiya raised his hands in a calming motion. "Everyone is fine, Odango. Kinmoku is doing great. Our princess thought we deserved a vacation."

"We? Taiki and Yaten are here as well?" Relaxing from the initial shock Usagi sat down on the edge of the bed.

Seiya eyed the space beside her indecisively, not quite sure how to act around her now. They'd been so close. But three years had passed. He remained standing "Yes. They went ahead to our old apartment. But I made this my first stop. Ain't I the kindest?"

Usagi rolled her eyes. "Humble as ever. Glad to see these past years did nothing to erase your belief that you're god's gift to humanity."

Seiya's grin only widened. "Of course not, hope it didn't erase yours?"

"Can't erase something that wasn't there to begin with"

"Ouch, so cold." Seiya said mockingly hurt, but humour glittered in his eyes.

Even Usagi offered up a quick grin of her own before going serious again. "How did you get in though? I sure hope there´s no broken window to worry about." She said, suddenly turning around to check her own, making sure they were still there and whole.

Seiya snorted. "Now Odango how low you think of me. Your mom let me in."

"Of course she did." Usagi sighed, only slightly annoyed.

"You keep that up and I might just think you haven´t missed me at all." Seiya raised an eyebrow.

"Well there might have been a teeny tiny moment where I might have missed you just a little bit."

Seiya chuckled. "Oh really? Want to talk about it over a piece of cake? Not only do you talk in your sleep but so does your stomach" He winked at her.

Usagi huffed, trying to hide the smile that was threatening to break out. "Well I´m booked today. Supposed to meet up with Ami at the library and then with the group at the Crown…" Usagi´s eyes went to the clock at the wall. "Shit! It's almost 5, I'm late!" Usagi panicked.

"Don't worry, Odango" Seiya offered her a hand. "I'll come with you, they'll totally understand why you're late then." He winked.

Usagi snorted in disbelief but she took Seiya's hand and he pulled her off the bed.

"Ouch!"

Seiya instantly let go and Usagi clasped her right arm.

"Did I hurt you?" He asked worriedly.

Usagi pulled up her sleeve and examined her wrist, it was slightly swollen and beginning to look a little blue. "No, no it wasn't you" Usagi assured him. "It was…" Suddenly she remembered the attack. "I actually don't know what it was…".

Usagi told Seiya what she could recall about what had happened.

"…when I woke up again the monster or whatever it was had disappeared."

Seiya frowned "So it just left?"

"Well… I think someone scared it away."

"Who?" Usagi didn't reply at first, she just stared at Seiya. "Why are you giving me that look?"

"I thought it was you."

"What?"

"I thought it was you, that saved me... But it wasn't, was it?"

Seiya smiled slightly "I wish it was, but I can't take credit for this one."

Usagi snorted "That's a first."

"Hey!" Seiya grew serious again."So why did you think it was me?" He asked curiously.

"I thought I saw…" Usagi shook her head. "Never mind, I took quite a hit to the head. Must have imagined things." She took another look at the watch and groaned. "Great! Now I'm really late!"

"It's okay. I'll give you a ride, we'll get you there in no time."

Usagi eyed him suspiciously. "What kind of ride would that be?"

Seiya grinned. "You'll just have to see."

"On second thought I think I'll just run."

"Oh come on!" Seiya grabbed her uninjured hand and pulled her with him. "It'll be fun."

"So how long are we staying here?" Taiki asked.

While Seiya had run off to see Usagi, Taiki and Yaten had gone back to their old apartment. Three years had passed but the apartment looked just the same as the day they'd left. Clearly their manager had made sure the maintenance was kept up cause there wasn't as much as a speck of dust. Even the things they'd left behind had been saved in their respective rooms.

"Already tired of the vacation?" Yaten asked dryly and sat down on the couch.

"That's not what I meant. It's not that I mind getting some time off, I actually can't remember when that last happened. And I did miss this place… But we haven't been away from our princess for so long now. I can't help but worry."

Yaten eyed him sympathetically. "Yeah I know how you feel… Anyway the one who needs us most right now is our foolish brother. He's the one you really need to worry about" He rolled his eyes and Taiki smiled a little

"You know he's not going to give up until he's won that girl's heart." He remarked.

Yaten sighed. "Might as well get comfortable then. We'll be staying here for a long time." He got up from the couch. "I think I'll head out for a bit and have a look around. Contact me if you hear anything from Seiya." He added before walking out the door.

Not feeling too tempted to stay in the apartment himself Taiki decided he might as well run a few errands and so he also headed out.

Not sure how he got there, Yaten found himself in front of Minako's house. He stood there a while. Contemplating whether he should just move along or go up to the entrance. In the end the second option won out and he gave the door a few tentative knocks. Nothing happened and Yaten was just starting to regret his decision as the door swung open by a cheerful blond.

"Ye- Yaten-kun?!" Her expression changed midsentence to one of surprise.

Yaten blinked, suddenly feeling tongue-tied. Minako recovered from the initial shock and smiled brightly at him. "It's so nice to see you again! What are you doing here? Is Seiya-kun and Taiki-kun with you as well?"

"Phone" Yaten croaked out.

"Huh?"

Yaten cleared his throat. "Your phone, could I borrow it? Mine's dead" It was the quickest thing he could think of. After all he definitely couldn't admit that he was there cause he wanted to see her.

"Oh, sure! Come in." Minako stepped aside so Yaten could enter and then led him into the kitchen. "Here" She handed him her phone. "While you're here, would you like some tea?" She asked as Yaten started tapping in Seiya's number.

"Sure" Yaten shrugged and pressed call.

"Aino-san?"

"Wrong"

"Yaten? Why are you calling from Minako's phone and not your own?"

"Mine's dead"

"Sure it is"

"Shut up! I just happened to run into her and she was kind enough to let me borrow hers."

Yaten didn't catch Minako smiling to herself. Same old Yaten She thought.

"Yeah, yeah. What did you want then?"

"Oh just wondering if you're done getting rejected so we can go home already"

"Ha. No."

"Well, it's your funeral. Are you heading back to the apartment anytime soon?"

"Don't know. We're on our way to the library."

"Library? Did I call Taiki?"

"Funny. Now if you're all out of jokes I'm going to hang up. Bye" Yaten snickered. He handed the phone back to Minako. "Thanks." He said and sat down across from her at the table where Minako had placed a cup for him.

"Don't mention it. So I guess all three of you are here then?"

"That would be correct" "How come you're back?" Minako asked.

Yaten shrugged. "Our princess sent us with Seiya and I don't think I need to tell you who he came to see."

Minako giggled at that and the thought of what her friends' face must have looked like at that visit. Yaten sighed and shook his head "He's a fool for not giving up."

"I think it's romantic. Like a movie." Minako said dreamily.

Yaten snorted. "There's nothing romantic about one-sided love. Only painful."

"Painful? Do you have an unrequited love for someone?" Minako asked and looked at him curiously.

Yaten looked away, trying to push down the colour rising in his cheeks. "No. Of course not. But the time spent with Seiya since we left here is enough for anyone to come to that conclusion." Yaten took a sip of the tea.

"It was that bad huh?" Minako said, sympathy clear in her voice.

Yaten nodded. "I don't get it. We're famous here. Getting girls would be easy."

Minako looked amused. "Now you're starting to sound like Seiya." The appalled look on Yaten's face from that statement made her laugh before continuing. "Besides, how would you know the girl liked you for who you are and not your star status?"

"I suppose you have a point."

Minako smiled. "Yeah. I might not have reached Three lights level of fame yet but I do have my fair share of admirers" She winked at him causing Yaten to almost choke on his tea and start coughing. "Are you OK? Do you need some water?"

Yaten shook his head, motioning for the blond not to worry. "No I'm fine" He croaked and cleared his throat. "I need to go anyway."

Minako looked at watch on her arm "Oh, I should go to. I'm meeting up with the girls" She followed Yaten to the door and they made company down the driveway.

"Well I'm heading this way." Yaten motioned with his thumb over his shoulder.

"I'm going that way." Minako pointed in the opposite direction.

"Oh."

They stood silent for a moment, none of them making any attempt to leave.

"Mina-" Yaten started but was cut off by the cursed sound of a cell phone, coming from his back pocket. There was no way to hide the embarrassment from Minako this time around as he felt his face redden. He cursed Seiya under his breath, knowing for certain he was the culprit even without looking at the display. The signal died down and Yaten cleared his throat. "Well, thanks for the tea."

Minako leaned forward and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "You're welcome." Then she turned around and hurried away. Leaving Yaten staring after her with his hand on the spot her lips had just touched.