Disclaimer : I don't own Sailormoon. You think I'd be
writing a fanfic if I did? Heh -_-;

A.N. Ummm yeah, is this chapter predictable or what? =P
Sorry I haven't written anything in ages! I've just been
very busy with school ;_;

Thanks for all the reviews!!!

In case you forgot or skipped part 8:

Usagi got up from the couch to take his bag and coat.
Tetsu let her take them. He stood there blankly, which
worried Usagi.
"Are you all right?" she asked him, touching his arm gently.
He looked down at her, seeing a puzzled frown on her face.
Usagi smiled unsurely. He opened his mouth to say something,
but then stopped himself. Then he just walked away up the
stairs. Usagi wondered what he was going to say.

----

And To Change, Is It Good?

By Artemis

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Part 9 - The Truth Hurts

Mamoru stood outside Sharla's house, deciding whether or not he should ring the bell.
He stood there, thinking over the pro's and con's. Well, there was one pro and one con.
It didn't help him at all. He walked back in his car and sat down. He could just ask Usagi
herself.... But then he might seem nosy. It was none of his business anyway. And Sharla
could be lying just to get him here. And he was here. He slammed his door shut and revved
up the car. He wasn't going to do what she wanted him to. He had decided that before.
He backed out of the driveway and headed home.

Usagi sat up and looked at Tetsu, fast asleep beside her. He was acting so strange lately
that she didn't know what to think. And what about those orchids? Usagi doubted that they
were from Tetsu, but then why would Mamoru want to give her flowers and lie about it?
Just so she would accept them? Or maybe to keep her thinking that Tetsu still loved her?
She didn't know what either of them thought about her. And Sharla. She didn't seem so bad
any more. Except how did Tetsu know her? Unless she visited Mamoru at work.... Usagi shook
her head free of the thoughts. She shouldn't think about them. She shouldn't think about
Mamoru at all. He had nothing to do with her any more. But what would happen if she did
divorce Tetsu? What would Tetsu think? What would anybody think? Usagi sighed and got
out of bed to get some milk to drink. That always made her feel better. So she quietly
slipped out of bed and walked down stairs to the kitchen. There, she saw Tetsu's suitcase
which wasn't properly closed. She reached over to close it, but curiosity made her open it
instead. All she found was papers and forms, which was what she expected to find. Just as
she was about to close it, she saw the corner of a stamped envelope tucked into a pocket.
She took it out and saw that it was posted from somewhere in Paris. Tetsu's address was
written in swirly cursive handwriting. Usagi turned the envelope over and all the addressee
had written was their name, which was unusual. If it had been a business letter than it would
have been sent with a proper return address. So this wasn't a business letter? And who
would Tetsu send a personal letter from Paris? Usagi frowned. She couldn't make out the name
very well because it was written in cursive, but she got the hint that maybe it was a woman.
She tucked the envelope back into the suitcase pocket and left it the way she had found it.

Mamoru lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling. For some strange reason, he had been awake
since five. He didn't have to go to work for a week so he should be sleeping in, but he just
couldn't get to sleep. He wondered if Tetsu minded if he showed up at work. He had nothing
better to do anyway. Mamoru sighed and sat up. He glanced at his clock. Six. Then, he
noticed that he had received a message on his phone. He frowned and opened it. It was from
Tetsu. Why hadn't he just called him? Tetsu had written that he was going to Paris again
and unfortunately he needed Mamoru to come back to work. Mamoru frowned. Why was Tetsu
going back to Paris? There was no more business needed in Paris, as far as Mamoru knew of.
He decided to call Tetsu and demand answers to all of his unanswered questions. But all
Mamoru got was the automated voice saying that the phone was unavailable. He frowned.
Then he grabbed the phone on his bedside table and dialled Tetsu's home number. The dial
tone rang and rang and rang. Then Mamoru suddenly realised that Usagi could answer the
phone. He was about to hang up when the line was picked up. He cursed himself in his mind.
"Hello?" he heard Usagi's angelic voice.
"Uh, um... Is Tetsu there?" Mamoru asked clumsily.
"No, he's just left for work. Have you tried his mobile?"
"I did, it's unavailable."
"That's strange. Don't you have work today Mamoru san?"
"Uh, no. Has um.. Tetsu mentioned uh, Paris?"
"Paris? What about Paris?"
"Never mind," Mamoru mumbled. "I'll go into work and talk to Tetsu. Thanks."
"Wait, I mind. What about Paris?" Usagi demanded.
Mamoru sat there, unsure of whether to tell her.
"Mamoru san?" she asked.
"He um... sent me a message saying that he was going to Paris again... He hasn't
mentioned it to you?" Mamoru stammered.
There was silence. Mamoru waited for a response.
"Paris..." Usagi murmured.
"Hm?"
"Oh, nothing. Do you think you could take me with you to see Tetsu? I'd like to hear
his explanation too."
Mamoru was surprised by how strong Usagi seemed. He wondered if Sharla had anything
to do with it. He hoped not.
"I guess so.... I'll come pick you up then."
"Great. Thank you Mamoru san. I'll see you soon."
"Yeah, bye."
Mamoru put the receiver down and let out a deep sigh. He hoped he hadn't done anything
wrong. He could just imagine Tetsu giving him that look. He tried to get the thought out of his
mind. He grabbed his car keys and headed out.

Tetsu sat behind his desk with the letter in front of him. The two pages filled with emotion
filled French words. He took a piece of paper from his drawer and started to write. A sudden
knock on his door made him pause.
"Yes?" he called out.
The door burst open, not letting Tetsu have enough time to hide the letter from his desk.
He saw Mamoru and Usagi at the door. An odd, yet unsurprising combination.
"What are you doing here Usagi?" Tetsu frowned, ignoring Mamoru.
Tetsu quickly tucked the letter away into a drawer, but Usagi had already seen it.
"I'm here to ask why on earth you're going to Paris again!" she shouted.
"Calm down, lower your voice Usagi," Tetsu sighed and got up.
He gave Mamoru a cold glare. Mamoru sighed.
"I will not lower my voice until you give me a valid explanation!" Usagi continued.
Tetsu closed the office door and calmly sat back down.
"I'm going to Paris to discuss a few personal matters with a woman I met there while on
business," he spoke slowly and coolly.
"Why?" Usagi frowned.
"That's not really important."
"So you'll tell me first, but not your wife?" Mamoru butted in.
Usagi looked at Mamoru, then at Tetsu. Silence lingered. Tetsu looked at the two of
them and sighed.
"I really don't have time for this right now. Usagi, go home."
"Do you ever have time to talk to me?" Usagi whispered.
Mamoru looked at her, puzzled. What had gotten into her? Tetsu also looked at her
strangely. He was lost for words.
"Tetsu, if you don't talk to me now, then I'm going to walk out and file for divorce!"
"What!?" Mamoru shouted, before Tetsu could respond.
Tetsu didn't even flinch.
"Fine by me," he replied coldly.
"Fine!? Fine!? That's all you can say!?" Usagi shouted angrily, her small body trembling.
Tetsu took a project folder, then walked out of the office without another word. Usagi
stood there in shock, anger and any other emotion a human could have in the situation.
Mamoru was a little shocked and unsure of what to do.
"Were you serious?" he murmured nervously to Usagi.
She nodded as tears fell down her cheeks. Then she crumpled down to the floor and
cried in her arms.

Usagi sat down on the cough in Mamoru's apartment. She held the mug of warm coffee
in her hands and sighed. At least she now knew how Tetsu felt. And now, no matter
what happened, it was certain that she definitely couldn't convince herself otherwise.
"Are you okay?" Mamoru whispered to her as he sat down with his coffee.
She nodded slowly and took a sip from her mug.
"Sharla said she's going to come over now."
"Thanks," Usagi sighed.
Mamoru sat there, drinking his coffee and wondering if there was anything else he
could do.
"I'm sorry to trouble you like this," she murmured quietly.
"It's all right. I don't mind," he smiled, but she stared coldly at the floor.
There was silence between them. The clock ticked. Mamoru's phone rang, breaking
the silence and making them both jump.
"Hello?" Mamoru answered, keeping an eye on Usagi.
"Mamoru, I'm so sorry, but I can't come. Someone decided to dump this case on me
and I can't get out of it. I don't know when I can come, but probably not any time
today," Sharla whispered.
"I see. Sure."
"I'm so sorry. I'll call you back tomorrow. I've gotta go. Bye."
"Bye."
Mamoru put down the phone slowly. Usagi was looking at him eager to know who
had called.
"That was Sharla..." he sighed.
"I see.." Usagi nodded.
There wasn't any need for any more words. Mamoru sat back down next to Usagi.
"I guess I should go home now," Usagi smiled weakly. "I don't want to be an
inconvenience."
"Don't worry. You can stay here as long as you want." Mamoru smiled gently.
"Thank you."

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END OF PART 9
----

A.N. The next part is the end ^^ Finally!

Teaser:

Part 10 - I think... It is

She couldn't believe she had been missing the true meaning
of love for so long. And she always felt the feeling that she
had fallen in love with him before. As if she had met him
somewhere, sometime. Maybe in another lifetime. But their love
was still the same.