~~~ LIVE ON MY OWN ~~~

MIAMIGI: Thanx SOOO much for all the reviews!
Please keep it comin'! I promise to reply
everbody!

DECLAIMER: me no woun sayla noon o eny wah fom eet, e'all ondastand
me??? (hey hey hey, sorry for the BAAAD prounciation, please
figure what heck I just said on your own, QQQQ~~~ )
Still, want the story? Ya got it! Just use my name, my e-mail
address, and before doing all that, tell me where the heck the
site is!

RATE: G

WARNING: ok, don't get scared. It's really nothing. Just wanna informed
you guys that our dear Usagi seemed to be a bit strange here,ok??? And please
finish this chapter!!! Because the cute parts start from the end of this chapter..

By the way, remember the game with my *race mystery*? OK here's the
answer: I am an Asian. But please don't stop reading my story for that,
OK?

CHAPTER ONE
**********

Usagi was crying on Mamoru's shoulder and she had already used three rolls
of tissue papers. Mamoru was still in wondering what made his happy girlfriend
doing waterwork like that. Not she doesn't do it often, but he had just heard
his best friend, Motoki, that she got accepted into University of Miami, the
school of her dream.

When he heard that, he was kind of surprised since he didn't expect Usagi's
TOEFL (MIAMIGI: for the guys thatb don't know what it is, TOEFL stands for
Test Of English as a Foreign Language) score would be high enough to apply
for UM. But for the shock he descided to take her out for a celebration.

As soon as he got readyfor the date, he opened the apartment door, and saw
a blond girl running *REALLY* fast towards him. The next thing he knew, was
sitting at his leather sofa for twenty minutes straight with a girl wetting his
new silk shirt.

" Um, Usako, are you finished? Can we start taliking about what's wrong?"
Mamoru ran his fingers through her silking hair and asked.

" Sorry, Mamo-chan, I just can't control myself," looking down at his shoulder,
she apologized again," and sorry for your once-was-beautiful silk shirt, but I can't
pay for it. I am *poor*... bankrupted..."

Mamoru got a hint of what was going on by her last two words. he put his arm
around his Odango Atama's shoulders and tried to comfort her,
" I know UM is expensive and your parents probably can't afford it, but you know
that I can help. I'll be glad to. At least if that's the problem."

" Mamo-chan, why do you always have to be so smart??? Yes, it is about the
money for tuition and everything. You see, I was going to attend University
of Tokyo at first, but then my dad got promoted as CEO so we thought..."

" Honey, *I KNOW*. Remember you used to tell me *the good news* all the
time? I still have nightmares about that, you know..." seeing Usagi didn't
laugh at the joke, he continued, "OK, so I see you didn't want any jokes right
now...but, I mean, Usako, isn't that good? With the money and..."

" My dad got fired."
" Whaaaaat?? Well, um, I can help."
" But, Muffin, I *DON"T* want your help."
" What do you mean???"
" I've decided. I'll fly to Florida first, I'l get a job, I'll study hard and get a full
scholarship. I can to live on my own. I want to. "

Mamoru paused for a second. He was NOT expecting this. ' Since when my odango
became so responsible ans mature? Yesterday she was still a baby in my arms..
Should I let her???'
" But you won't have time for all of those! Work *AND* school, are you crazy?
No I am not going to let you. Listen, I'll pay for ALL of your,um, needs. But you
are not going to do it all by yourself."

Usagi suddenly remembered the way her parents looked at her when they told
her Kenji got fired and won't be able to afford the tuition. They looked...
as if they were ashamed of themselves. ' It's not their responsibility to take care
of me now. Used to be, yes, but I am an *adult* now I am on my own.'

She bit her upper lip. she knew what she had to do even though it would be hard.
Slowly, she said, " . Mamo-chan, I know you want to help. But it's my responsibility.
Please give me a chance to grow up. PLEASE!!!"

"But.." Usually he would let her do anything she wnated to, but this time it's different.
He knew what it was like be living and working and supporting yourself all alone.
He was those people. And he knew that was a VERY bad choice, not only she might
get sick, but something else..
' What thing?' ' I dunno and I don't want to know.' ' Should I say yes??'

" But... at least let me pay for your plane ticket and the first year's tuition so you
can save up enough money to pay for the sencond and third..."

" I.."

" If you want to know, this is not a give-away. You have to pay me back one day."
' by marrying me.' Mamoru thought;smile at her.

" OK, if you say so."

Later, she went back home and told Ikuko and Kenji the news and discussed it with
them. Her parents seemed to be nervous and doubtful at the idea first but then
they finally agreed with their daughter.
they felt kind of ashaned of themselves that they had to let their daughter do all
those thing for herself in order to get into a college. But what thye were REALLY
surprised was that, all of a sudden, theuir daughter seemed to be so mature
tht they couldn't believe it.
~~~~~~~~~~

The next day, Usagi told the rest of the girls about her decision. For some odd reason,
all of them already knew what happen to Kenji and they also afford to help.
As the same, they were shocked when they heard that Usagi told the *LIVE ON HER
OWN* plan. Everyone tried to convince her that she didn't have to do it, but knowing
she had already made up her mind, they just gave up and told her that that they would
be behind her all the way and if she needed help they would always be there.

" Thank you, guys... thank you so much..." she burst of *happy tears*.
~~~~~~~~~~
# three weeks later#

Usagi was dressed in a orange and pink blouse and white jeans. She didn't exactly
look terrific, ' But she still looks so beautiful' thought Mamoru.

The girls, except Ami, who flew to Yale a few days ago, were busy hugging their
families and friends.

" Usak, remember, e-mail us and if there's any problem, tell us," said Kenji and Ikuko.

" Sure, dad 'n mom... and don't worry about me, I've alredy called Fran (MIAMIGI: Fran
is her friend who moved to Forida form Tokyo few years ago.), she will help me, too.

Then she turned back and saw her Mamo-chan staring at her with his ocean blue eyes
which said everything.
"um, Mamo-chan... I'll miss.." But before she could finish, Mamoru just went to hug
her tightly.
" Just.. don't say anything..."
'Is this my imagination, or does Mamo-chan sounded lik crying?' thought Usagi.

# Attention please. *** flight******* in the next forty minutes so if the passengers
who's not on the plane yet please hurry up.#(MIAMIGI: sorry but I am not really familiar
with those annoucements. Well, at least you get what I am trin' to say here. Right?)

" Guess we gotta go," Rei held Usagi's wrist and led her towards the door (MIAMGI:
you know the *door* that leads to the plane, right? That's it. Remember I am not familiar
with al these airport things...)

After the last wave at Mamoru, Usagi ran into the plane which would be landing in Florida
in the next thirteen hours (MIAMIGI: yes, it takes a real long time frome Tokyo to Florida.)
~~~~~~~~~~

After watching the plane leaving, Mamoru left and drove back his apartment.
He threw his green jacket on the floor, ran his hand through his thick, black hair while
went into his bedroom. On the table beside his bed, there was a picture of him and Usagi
in the park. She was lying in his arms and smiled like a happy angle.
Tears rolled down his cheeks.
He wiped them off and whispered,
" I am gonna miss you, Odango Atama..."
~~~~~~~~~~
# At the airport in Florida#

The girls hugged each other, for they won't be able to do that in a long time.
Unusually, instead of Usagi the klutz, Makoto and Rei were the ones that were doing
the waterwork. Minako was trying her best to control herself and Usagi looked firm
and steady (MIAMIGI: whatever that's supposed to mean....).

" So,I guess it's time for bye-bye,huh?" Makoto said quietly, slowly dried her tears.

" Yeah... hey guys, don't act like the end of the world, we'll still get to see each other,
right? Beside we all have e-mails, so we can still, um, communicate each other." Clearly
Usagi was the only calm one.

Minako grabbed her luggages and whispered a bye and walked away. Usagi spotted Fran
and left the girls. Rei and Makoto soon did the same.
~~~~~~~~~~

Usagi was sitting at the back seat of Fran's peach BMW. She looked up and saw Fran
looking back at her from the mirrow. ' She's a bit like Minako, but different" Usagi thought.

Fran had long blond hair, which was put in a high pony tail. She had sun glasses over her
eyes, but Usagi knew those were blue. She was wearing a yellow sleeve less shirt with
a pink miniskirt.

' Oh, I hate the silence. Gotta break the ice.' Fran was trying to fine a subject that her long-
time-no-see friend might be interested in.

" So, Usa, did you had to leave you boyfriend?" asked Fran, hoping it would work. Seeing
Usagi didn't reply, just lookin' pale, she thought, 'Wrong one.'

" Um, you don't have to live in dorm rooms, you can live with me... and you can fine a job
like... photo shooting. I heard that earns a lot of money."

Finally, Usagi opened her mouth.

"Thanks,Fran. I would like to live with you. But i am not good with camera, though."
" Well we can always figure that out later." Fran turned around, smilied at Usagi.
~~~~~~~~~~

Mean while, Rei, Minako, Makoto all arrived at their universities and settled down.
~~~~~~~~~~

Mamoru just got back from work. 'Being working for IBM sure was not easy.'
He went to see if he had any messages.

" You have seven messages." said the answer machine, computer-sounded.
" Lemme see... my boss, Mokoti, blah blah blah... Hinoko?"
~~~~~~~~~~

Usagi borrowed Fran's computer and e-mailed Mamoru and her parents that
everything was all right. After that, she unpacked her stuff, decorated her *new
room* and felt extremely tired because of jet lag, so she went to sleep.

The next morning, she got up and saw fran in the kitchen. She walked over there and
said morning.

"So you're awake, huh. I'm cooking breakfast. Still having jet lag?" asked Fran. She
looked sunny and happy.

" Not really. Usually it only takes me one sleep to get over jet lag"

" You are still the Sleeping Beauty?"
" Un huh.."

Fran told her that after they ate, they would start looking for a job for Usagi. She agreed
and hurried ate five pancakes, three boiled eggs, and four glasses of milk in nine minutes.
Fran just laughed and said, " I see you haven't change a bit, girl!"
~~~~~~~~~~

" What kind of job do you want, then? No fast food, let me tell you." Fran had a pen and a
notepad in her hands, ready to take down the notes.

" Um... it can't take up me took much time, nor too much energy, and the salary can't be
too little, and it's gotta be in the town...so... *I DON'T KNOW*."

" How about a model? models earns tons of money, and if you're good, it won't be hard
and will certainly not take up too much of your time. If you are good, that is, Usa,"
Fran suggested, thinking that it might actually work.

"Um...perfect?" answer Usagi. As soon as Fran heard that, she grabbed Usagi's hand and
ran out the apartment.
" So what are we waiting for?"
~~~~~~~~~~~

Fran took Usagi to Eighteen's company at Florida (MIAMIGI: just pretend that it's here.
Come on, go with me here!!!). It was just two miles away form where they lived. And
luckily, they *DID* need a new model to fill in for one that got pregnant, so after
interviewed with usagi alone, they took a few pictures of her, and told her she was just
perfect fot the job and she could star working the next day, and she would get $150 per
picuture that get published.

" WOW!!! Thank you so much!!!! I love you manager!" Usagi screamed, as loud as the whole
building could hear her. ' ohmygodiamamodel!!!!!'

Fran hogged her tightly. " See, I knew it would work out just fine, supermodel! Let's cele-
brate! Where should we go?? Oh,I know a place.." before she could saythe name, the
manager interrupted and stopped her.

He cleaned his throat and said, " well girl, congratulations. But don't get too excited, thought
, because you mifht faint." He looked as if he was hiding the world's most mystrious news.

" Why?" both the girls asked in union. Question markes were surrnding them.

" Because you have no idea who you re going to be taken photos with, Usagi."
"Who?"

He clean his throat again, just to make her more nervous,
" OK, get ready... you are going to be shot with the *THREE LIGHTS*!!!"
**********

Hmpf, between Seiya and Mamoru,
which one will she choose?
I dunno, so R&R and tell me!
PLEASE let me know your E_M so I can
reply back. Arigatou ^_^.

Miamigi

* ~ the pure *GI* girl ~ *