[:::eleventh:::]

The group had all piled into the limo that was still waiting for them out front. Other people from their class would not be far behind them in heading for their apartment. "We should probably stop and pick up some snacks for everyone on the way home." Kakyuu stated once they were on the road. They hadn't thought about that, they had no provisions for their party guests and definitely had to stop on the way home to pick some up.

"You mean we have to get out and go in a store looking like this?" Usagi asked as she held up her dress.

"It'll be fun, kind of like we are celebrities or something!" Minako was having the time of her life and to be seen out in public, even if it was a deserted convenient store, dressed this way was thrilling. Yaten told the driver to stop and the nearest corner store and he did so.

The three girls piled out and saw the second limo drive by with Makoto hanging out the window waving. They all waved back and proceeded into the store. Minako was getting the soda, Kakyuu was getting the dip and Usagi was in charge of the chips and things. She weaved in and out of the isles and finally found the selection of plastic bags. "You look beautiful." A voice said from behind her. She recognized this voice and immediately turned around. "I wish I could have been the one to take you to your prom." He smiled at her as they stood there staring at each other.

"Mamoru, when did you get back?" Confusion was written all over her face. It's not that she wasn't happy to see him. "How is school going?"

"It's great, I'm having a great time in America. But I miss you." He said as he brought her into a hug. Kakyuu came around the corner and saw this, she didn't know what was going on so she stayed out of it. She immediately found Minako and they spied on them through the rack of chips. "What are you doing in a convenient store looking like this?" He asked as he let her go.

"We had to stop and pick up a few things for our 'after-prom' party." She smiled at him as she continued to pick up bags of chips. Our two spies started to get worried that she would remove their covering. Usagi's back was to them and they could barely make out Mamoru's face. "I've missed you too. It seems like forever since we last saw each other." Usagi said as she started piling up his arms with bags too.

Minako's eyes started to water and she was taking quick gasps of air. Kakyuu knew what was coming next and put her hand over Minako's mouth. To no avail the sneeze still came out and blew their cover. Mamoru spotted them through the rack and said hello with a wave. The two girls stood up and smiled nonchalantly as they went around the rack to stand near Usagi. They all said their hellos and then Minako and Kakyuu made their way up to the counter with Mamoru and Usagi following them. "Can I drive you to your party so I can talk to you 'alone'?" Mamoru asked Usagi as they set their things down on the counter to pay.

Minako and Kakyuu heard every word they were saying and were just as eager to Usagi's answer as Mamoru was. "Sure, that would be nice." Usagi smiled at him and handed him a bag that the cashier had packed for them. Kakyuu and Minako looked at each other as the four of them proceeded to the limo outside. Kakyuu and Minako got in the limo with their bags and Usagi handed hers into them. "Alright, I'll see you there." She waved as she turned around and left.

"What is she doing?" Seiya asked. He hadn't noticed Mamoru walking with her. Minako and Kakyuu had nervous expressions on their faces and this made him even more curious. He looked out the window to the direction that Usagi had walked off in and saw a red sports car drive by, this he recognized as Mamoru's car. His eyes opened wide and before he could say anything Kakyuu broke the silence.

"Mamoru is giving her a ride to the party. He told her that he wanted to talk to her alone." She looked down sheepishly, she didn't want to see Seiya's reaction. She knew he would be devastated, he had been so close and now Mamoru was back.

"Oh, is he going to join us at the party?" He asked calming down a bit and turning his head in Kakyuu's direction. He wasn't pissed as she thought he would be, he actually seemed to be taking this rather well.

"I don't think so. I think he just wanted to talk to Usagi." Minako tried to save Kakyuu from having to deal with all of the questions. To both of their surprise Seiya had no more questions to ask.

"So what did you want to talk to me about?" Usagi said as they drove off in his car. The streetlights were on and reflecting off of the windshield making them look like they were going faster than they really were.

"I just wanted to see you again. Do you mind coming with me?" He asked not sure of her response.

"No, I don't mind at all. It's nice to see you again." She looked out the window. "It's weird you know, after seeing you everyday for as long as I can remember and then all of the sudden one day you're just gone. It's just so strange. I thought we would be together for the rest of our lives." She turned her head back to look at him. "You know what I mean? I know this must sound pretty stupid." She said as she looked down in her lap and fiddled with her corsage.

Mamoru smiled he pulled over to the side of the road. They were now in the park, he had taken the scenic route to the apartment so that they didn't arrive there before the others. "I don't think it's stupid, I know exactly what you mean." He sighed and took her hand in his. "You know, it doesn't have to be this way. We can still be together." He looked into her eyes to see the shine that they held. "It's not too late Usako, I still love you." He kissed her hand.

Usagi's eyes opened wide, she had not expected this. "We can't." She said in a hushed whisper.

"Why not? We belong together, we were so right together. How can you just throw that away? I don't know about you but I can't let go of everything we had that easily." He looked as though he was about to cry.

This was tearing him apart, it was like they were breaking up all over again. "We can't. Don't do this Mamoru, please." The plead came in another hushed voice. She was trying not to get herself excited and upset. It wasn't working.

"Do what? Tell the person that I love that I love them and want to be with them? What is so bad about that?" He reached over to take her hand again but she pulled it away.

"Please, please don't do this." She began to cry, her makeup was smeared already. "I love you too, just not the way you want me to." She began to wipe her tears and mascara away with her glove that she had been holding.

"I know." He said as he retracted himself from her he sat back down in his seat. "I'm sorry about what I said." He turned the keys in the ignition and started the car. He looked over at her, tears streaked her face and made lines of mascara run down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry."

His arms wrapped around her and pulled her in close to him. When he pulled back he wiped her tears away to clean up her face. "Mamoru." Usagi sputtered out.

"Shhh. don't worry. I was wrong, I shouldn't have done that to you, I know you love him." He smiled at her, it was one of most forced smile ever seen. "I hope you'll be happy with him." She looked him right in the eye. "I mean that."

They drove off towards the Light's apartment, nothing more was said between the two.

When the two limos arrived at the apartment they noticed cars parked around their building, apparently people had arrived early. They let them in and everyone proceeded up to their penthouse. There was music and people were having a good time. "Ami where were you for the last part of the dance?" Minako asked as they sat in the living room.

Ami's face got red and she started to explain. "Well you see. I um. well."

"When she came out of the lady's room she had tucked her skirt into her stockings and her lower half was exposed." Taiki spoke for Ami since she was having trouble.

"I asked Taiki if he would go and sit in the limo with me and wait for you guys since I was so embarrassed." Ami turned even redder. Minako burst out laughing and she didn't seem to appreciate this.

By now Minako was rolling on the floor with laughter when Yaten walked over to see what she was doing. "What did you look at yourself in the mirror?" He stood over her. She stopped laughing and he helped her up. "Kakyuu was looking for you." He told Minako as he took the seat where she had previously been sitting.

"Minako there you are." Kakyuu walked up from the same direction that Yaten had come from. "Has Usagi gotten here yet?" By now the other senshi knew of what happened at the corner store and were still waiting for Usagi to arrive.

Naru overheard the conversation and added in what she knew. "I saw her." She said dragging Umino behind her. "She was parked in the park with Mamoru. They were hugging or something. She never even told me that he was back."

The five in the living room were shocked at what the red head had just told them. Where was Seiya? Was the question that was on all of their minds. Kakyuu set off to go and look for him. Everyone she asked said that they hadn't seen him, but she knew better. The balcony door was just slightly ajar and the curtains were drawn.

He was sitting in a white chair tipping himself back with his feet against the rail. "Why don't you come in? You're missing the party." Kakyuu came up behind him.

"I don't know, I don't really feel like seeing anyone right now." He looked right at Kakyuu. "I know she loves me but why hasn't she told me? Why can't she show me that she loves me?" He stared through the spindles to the street below. "What am I saying? I have no right to be upset that she's with Mamoru right now. He has just as much right to be with her as I do, it's not like we're together." With this he tipped himself farther back then he had previously done.

Kakyuu knew that he was deeply upset. "I'm sure she'll be here any second, I mean how long does it take to talk?" She smiled trying to relieve him of what he was thinking.

"I already heard what Naru and Umino saw. I'm not stupid." His tone was harsh. "Boy did I have myself fooled. So many times tonight I thought she was trying to get me alone to tell me how she feels about me, but the whole time she must have been trying to tell me how she feels about Mamoru."

Kakyuu put her hand on his shoulder and was about to comfort him when the shiny red sports car pulled up under them. No one got out of the car right away.

"Well I guess this is goodbye again." Mamoru started.

"Don't say that, we will always be friends and hey we even have a daughter in the future!" Usagi tried to find the positive in the situation.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." He gave her a smile. "Go and have fun, I hope I didn't ruin your night."

"You didn't. I'd love to see you anytime." She smiled at him as she grabbed for the door handle.

He grabbed her hand as she was getting out. This caused her to turn around and face into the car again. "Usako. Usagi, thank you." They smiled at each other and he let her go. Forever.

The two on the balcony couldn't see what was going on inside the car, since he had parked under the glare of a streetlight. The door shut behind Usagi as she waved at him as he drove off. When he was out of site she turned and faced the apartment building and then turned and looked at the street again. She sat down in the middle of the sidewalk. Anyone that drove or walked by her would think she looked quite strange sitting in her prom dress.

Kakyuu and Seiya watched her from above. "What is she doing?" Kakyuu whispered. "Why doesn't she come in?"

"Obviously she doesn't want to." Seiya said as he stood up. Kakyuu watched him stand beside her, he was still looking down at the figure of Usagi on the pavement. He turned and took his eyes off of her and made an attempt to go inside. Kakyuu remained out on the balcony and looked back to where Usagi was sitting.

Usagi got up and walked towards the building. Kakyuu went inside to see where Seiya was going. She had trouble getting through the people that crowded the usually spacious apartment. She could see his head above most of the other's, people had stopped him and talked to him not allowing him to get too far. He broke off his conversation and headed for the door to leave. He didn't want to be here with all these people in a good mood. His heart had just been broken again and he didn't want them to see him cry.

The door to the apartment opened to reveal a still upset looking Usagi. She had been sitting on the pavement below to try to gain her composure again before she had to go up and face everyone. Seiya stopped in his tracks and Kakyuu stopped not far behind him. The room fell silent, everyone knew what was going on and were all interested in seeing the outcome of this. Usagi looked around at everyone and started to make her way towards Seiya. The path was clear and no one got in her way. "Can I talk to you?" She asked him as she stood face to face with him.

He didn't really want to hear what she had to say. She had led him on too much this time to break his heart again. "Sure." He said but made no motion to move.

"Alone?" She questioned in almost a whisper while looking from side to side.

He could see that she had been crying and that most of her make up was gone. It still streaked her face and was apparent that she had tried to wipe it away. He just wanted to take her in his arms and tell her it was alright, so that she wouldn't be upset anymore. But he couldn't and he knew it. He wasn't going to play her game any more, if they had to live here for the rest of their existence he was not going to be hurt all the time. She had been his best friend and he trusted her, but I guess that wasn't enough for her. "Whatever you have to say to me you can say in front of everyone else." He said, his tone cold and showing no emotion.

Kakyuu had a shiver go up her spine, she had never heard him be this heartless before. What had happened? What happened to the perfect ending fairy tale? She didn't want to watch this just before she turned to head towards her room she caught the stare of Usagi's eyes. Usagi looked at her with a look of bewilderment. Didn't she know what she had done? Kakyuu walked past other people and walked into her room. When she got in there she noticed Usagi's bag on her bed. It had little bunnies and hearts on it. It was partially open. Something caught her eye as she turned the light on. It was a picture. The glossy finish had reflected the light. She pulled the picture out and examined it closely. It was a picture of Seiya and Usagi sitting together in the park. They both looked so happy, not at all like what they looked like now in her living room.

Usagi had no idea why he was acting this way. She was still so innocent. This wasn't the Seiya she knew. The man she knew would never act this way, was she too late? Tears started anew in her eyes. "Please?" She looked down at the floor beneath her feet.

Seiya saw the tears in her eyes before she lowered her head and knew that he couldn't watch this. He was hurting his Odango and he couldn't stand it. He moved to the side and tried to walk past her to make it to the door. They were making a spectacle of themselves.

Usagi noticed his movements and noticed that he had made no actions to take her with him. He was going to leave. She didn't care if everyone was watching or not it was now or never. "Please don't go." She grabbed his arm, but he didn't turn around. She sobbed and repeated herself. "Please don't go. I love you."

It must have been like watching a soap opera for everyone else.