Chapter 3: Buried Feelings

Chibiusa gasped and covered her mouth from what she had uttered. She squeezed her eyes shut then proceeded to open one looking in Kyuusuke's direction. Kyuusuke had shot straight up from the way he had been sitting and was the one beet red this time.

They sat in an awkward silence like what seemed forever. Kyuusuke finally slumped forward elbows resting on his knees looking down. His dark brown hair covering his face.

"Has it always been that obviously?" Kyuusuke asked in the softest voice she had ever heard come out of him.

"No Kyuusuke, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that...I mean it's just...I mean I saw you looking...and from what you said I just...I word vomited. I'M SO SORRY!" Chibiusa scrambled to find the right words but inevitably wound up on her knees bowing for forgiveness.

Kyuusuke looked up at her crazy reaction and started laughing uncontrollably. "Jeeze, the amounts of kawaii that comes out of you is ridiculous!"

"You're my friend right? And I could tell you anything right? I mean without you running and spilling anything?"

Chibiusa nodded violently in agreement.

"I've always had feelings for Momo. As we got older they just got stronger, but we have been friends...BEST friends for so long. I just don't want to do anything to ruin that. I mean I don't even know if those kind of feelings would be reciprocated. I guess by flirting with you I know I can get a rise out of her. That's how I can get her attention...it's pretty lame huh?" Kyuusuke confessed.

Chibiusa had never seen this side of him. He's the Adonis of their school. Every girl will throw themselves at him even some upper class. He may milk it up but she's never actually seen him date anyone. Momo has been on a couple dates, nothing ever sticks but he always acted so nonchalant. Like it didn't bother him although he does distance himself but never enough to make it seem like something was wrong. He looked so sad saying what he did. This was real feelings that he's had buried for so long.

"No. It's not lame in the slightest. I see why you think that may be the only way you can get her attention without unmasking your real feelings. I do Kyuusuke. I cannot imagine how you could be feeling or even how you've been feeling for so long. Thank you for opening up to me about it. I promise I will not say anything but I do think you should say something to her." Chibiusa said with care in her voice.

Kyuusuke looked at her, then back at Momo's room. He shook his head and returned his gaze to the floor.

"That's a high price to gamble Chibiusa. I don't know if I'd be okay risking what we have. Thanks for listening, I guess I just needed to get it off my chest. Share it with someone else. But truth is, I think this is best kept a secret."

Chibiusa stood and extended her hand to her friend. She embraced him and they held each other for a bit. She knew what he was saying. She could understand how hard it would be if Momo didn't feel the same. Chibiusa often worries about when her day comes that she falls in love. She has Serenity and Endymion, aka Usagi and Mamoru as lovers who set the bar. Would she find a love like that? They weren't even friends in the beginning! So how hard would it be confessing your love to someone you've know almost your whole life? She felt Kyuusuke relax a bit and she took a step back still holding his shoulders with her hands, his hands at her waist. She took a deep breath to try to say something encouraging til she felt his hands glide lower and she grabbed the hand fan on her desk and whacked him across the face knocking him back into the bean bag.

"You deviant! Here I am trying to find the right thing to say and you already went back into Kyuu-mode!" Chibiusa scolded.

Kyuusuke chuckled and said,"Well I needed to break up the therapy session!" He shook like he had the chills and jumped back up.

Chibiusa rolled her eyes and plopped on her bed. "Yeah, yeah, yeah..." She sighed

"But really, I'm sorry if I've made you uncomfortable with any of that, I know where to stop but you guys always get your licks in before I do. I'll tone it down. It's still my personality even though I just showed you my vulnerability does exist." Kyuusuke stuck his tongue out playfully.

They continued to hang out a bit more talking about the obstacle course, played some video games and enjoyed being in each others company. Soon Kyuusuke returned home and Chibiusa laid on her bed thinking about their conversation. She had no idea if Momo may feel the same. Out of respect to Kyuusuke she knew she shouldn't try to ask Momo anything. How hard it must be to hide such feelings.

Chibiusa went about her normal routine. She was fresh out of the bath and sat upon her fluffy bed with Luna P in front of her. She focused her attention to the stars outside. Sparkling brightly and the moon shown ever so radiantly. The cool crisp air of fall turning into spring had already started, fresh and clean with hints of floral notes seemed to float through. The soft breeze caressed her porcelain skin and kissed her face. The palace always felt refreshing like this. The tall long halls were never stale. It was alway so open with a feeling of clean due to the lush grass and flowers that surrounded it. The pink sheer curtains brushed against her legs as the wind blew them and it felt just as her gown did. Soft, cool, delicate, and light. Caught up in her thoughts of home she hadn't realized Luna P was chiming. Quickly she came back to reality and answered to a missed familiar voice.