Held By the Wings of an Angel
The Cherry Project-Part Ten
By Bonnie-Chan
Email: hunniebunny@aol.com
Web page: http://www.geocities.com/sailor_moon_rose/
Today is February 19, 2002
Welcome back! Here's part eleven...this story's starting to speed up!
Okay, this isn't as much Usagi as I wanted...but wait until tomorrow! Have I got a treat for you!!! A reward for sticking with me so long!!
Welcome to Day Twelve of the 2002 Winter Olympics! I've always loved the Olympics, haven't you? Anyways, to memorialize this historic event, I am releasing a chapter of this story every single day for the next 5 days. By the Closing Ceremonies on February 24th, this story will be ending as well.
Watch the Olympics...you never know when the tides will turn and what you thought would happen can change in the blink of an eye!
Sailor Eeyore-you're a wonderful beta reader, thanks so much!! ^_^
Well, on with the story!
_____________________________
Held By the Wings of an Angel
The Cherry Project: Part Ten
By Bonnie-Chan
_____________________________
"Wow, the rink is even more gorgeous up close! Good luck, Chieri!"
"Thanks, Usagi! I'm really glad you're here with me!"
"Number 3, Asuka Chieri!"
Usagi grinned happily and wrapped her hands around her friend's skate guards for safekeeping.
Chieri skated onto the ice and launched straight into a triple axle.
Yuni screamed happily and clapped her hands, turning to the tall boy who had crept up beside her.
I can't believe this is only her first performance, can you? Hey, Kouichi? If Chieri wins this weekend, will she go on to the World Championships?"
"No, this is just a primary. The East Japan tournament comes next, followed by All-Japan."
Hiroshi nodded in agreement. "Chieri actually has a shot now, the regulations have been changed, so age and experience are no longer factors."
"Oh no! She just skipped in her sequence!" Usagi clapped her hand over her mouth in shock. "Come on, Chieri! You can do it!"
She winced as her friend entered her final combination, over-rotating on the fourth spin and crashing onto the ice before coming to the end of her program and waving to the crowd.
She headed back to the kiss-and-cry area, anxiously awaiting her scores.
5.0, 5.0, 5.0, 4.9, 4.9, 4.8, 4.8, 4.9, 5.0
"That's it!?"
"Those were her markets for required elements."
4.1, 4.9, 4.9, 4.8, 4.9, 4.9, 4.9, 4.9, 4.8
"Oh my god, her marks are awful!"
"Those were her marks for presentation. They're actually pretty good for a first performance.
Chieri grinned at her antsy friend. "It's okay, Yuni, really."
"Has the Princess skated yet? This program only has pictures, not the order they skate in."
"Pictures!?"
"Mm-hmm! Look!"
"Oh my god, my picture's horrible!"
"Hey...her real name isn't Princess!?"
"It isn't?"
"No, it's...Akiyama Canty. Yuni looked at Kouichi curiously. Akiyama...isn't that your last name, Kouichi?"
Hiroshi glanced at his friend. "You didn't tell them?"
"Damn...I didn't want to tell you, Chieri. The Princess...she's my little sister."
"No way! Wait a second...younger sister? She's younger than me?"
Usagi frowned at her friend. "Why didn't you tell us before, Kouichi? Now I see why you know so much about skating..."
"I can't skate. That's why I support Tsuzuki."
"Ah, I see."
"Oh! Miss Cherry!?"
Chieri turned to see a boy with pale hair holding a fluffy white teddy bear.
"Yes?"
"This is for you. He's Cherry the Bear! I'm your number one fan, and he's number two!"
"You're...my fan? Well, thank you."
A crowd of people formed around the duo, chattering excitedly.
"Kikuchi Wataru just gave that new skater a bear!"
"That's not fair!"
A reporter chuckled lightly at the amorous girls surrounding him. "I see that the boys' world junior champion has his sights set on you, Asuka-san!"
"Really? World junior champion?"
She turned her head as Canty brushed past her, heading onto the rink.
"Number 19, Akiyama Canty!"
Wataru wrapped his arms around Chieri as she watched her rival glide around the rink.
"She's so graceful...like a fluttering butterfly..."
"She's called the Princess because even though she's young, she has amazing power on the ice."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Did you really challenge her to a match? There's no way you'll ever beat her. You don't have any personality. You're better suited for pairs...will you pair skate with me?"
"Chieri glared at Wataru and slapped him. "Of course not! Of all the impertinent questions!"
She glanced at the scoreboard, where Canty's scores were appearing on the screen, mainly 5.9's. She scowled angrily and stalked towards the locker room.
***********************
"Chieri? Are you in here?"
"Yeah."
Usagi cautiously walked into the locker room and sat beside her desolate friend.
"You did a good job out there. I'm proud of you!"
"I'm not. The Princess did so much better than me!"
"She's also more experienced. I'll never catch up to her, Usagi!"
"Yes you will. Tomorrow will be better, honest."
"I sure hope so."
"I...ummm...have to go home, I can't stay here with you for the rest of the competition."
"Why not?"
"Family emergency."
"Is it serious?"
"No...but I have to go home. I'll watch from my TV though, promise!"
"Okay. Thanks for coming with me, Usagi."
"No problem. Show them what you're made of on Sunday, okay?"
"I will."
The two girls embraced before Usagi unraveled herself from her friend's arms and went back to her hotel room to transport home.
***********************
"So, you're Sailor Jupiter, huh?"
"I guess so."
"Well, it's great to have you on board!"
"Thank you, Sailor Moon."
"We'll be great friends, I know it! Just don't let Mars get to you. Her bark is worse than her bite. As for Mercury, she's really smart! If you have any questions, she can help you out!"
Usagi grinned at the brunette before her before leading her to the Hikawa Shrine to meet the other senshi.
***********************
Tsuzuki walked into the ice rink, the crowd parting for him, allowing him the ability to freely moved towards the rink.
The crowd began murmuring in awe, and reporters clamored around him.
"Tsuzuki Masanori has just made an appearance...he's coaching the Princess! The rumors are about becoming her coach are true!"
Tsuzuki noticed Chieri as he was swept towards the rink, and the image of her watery eyes would haunt him for the rest of the day.
***********************
Okay, a LOT abrupt...mainly the scene with Jupiter...but the rest of it didn't fit! Tomorrow brings the result of the Block Championship...and look for a VERY special Usagi arc!!!!!!
The end...until tomorrow, that is! Look for the twelth part of this epic tale tomorrow, and don't forget to watch the Olympics on NBC! Every day that you see events taking place, there's going to be a new chapter of this story! We're halfway done now! Whoo-hoo! There are only 5 Chapters to go! Usagi and Tsuzuki's stories are far from over!
Give me the next 5 days to tell you the rest of their story...I promise be worth the ride! ^_^
~Bonnie
February 19, 2002
Day 12 of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics
The Cherry Project-Part Ten
By Bonnie-Chan
Email: hunniebunny@aol.com
Web page: http://www.geocities.com/sailor_moon_rose/
Today is February 19, 2002
Welcome back! Here's part eleven...this story's starting to speed up!
Okay, this isn't as much Usagi as I wanted...but wait until tomorrow! Have I got a treat for you!!! A reward for sticking with me so long!!
Welcome to Day Twelve of the 2002 Winter Olympics! I've always loved the Olympics, haven't you? Anyways, to memorialize this historic event, I am releasing a chapter of this story every single day for the next 5 days. By the Closing Ceremonies on February 24th, this story will be ending as well.
Watch the Olympics...you never know when the tides will turn and what you thought would happen can change in the blink of an eye!
Sailor Eeyore-you're a wonderful beta reader, thanks so much!! ^_^
Well, on with the story!
_____________________________
Held By the Wings of an Angel
The Cherry Project: Part Ten
By Bonnie-Chan
_____________________________
"Wow, the rink is even more gorgeous up close! Good luck, Chieri!"
"Thanks, Usagi! I'm really glad you're here with me!"
"Number 3, Asuka Chieri!"
Usagi grinned happily and wrapped her hands around her friend's skate guards for safekeeping.
Chieri skated onto the ice and launched straight into a triple axle.
Yuni screamed happily and clapped her hands, turning to the tall boy who had crept up beside her.
I can't believe this is only her first performance, can you? Hey, Kouichi? If Chieri wins this weekend, will she go on to the World Championships?"
"No, this is just a primary. The East Japan tournament comes next, followed by All-Japan."
Hiroshi nodded in agreement. "Chieri actually has a shot now, the regulations have been changed, so age and experience are no longer factors."
"Oh no! She just skipped in her sequence!" Usagi clapped her hand over her mouth in shock. "Come on, Chieri! You can do it!"
She winced as her friend entered her final combination, over-rotating on the fourth spin and crashing onto the ice before coming to the end of her program and waving to the crowd.
She headed back to the kiss-and-cry area, anxiously awaiting her scores.
5.0, 5.0, 5.0, 4.9, 4.9, 4.8, 4.8, 4.9, 5.0
"That's it!?"
"Those were her markets for required elements."
4.1, 4.9, 4.9, 4.8, 4.9, 4.9, 4.9, 4.9, 4.8
"Oh my god, her marks are awful!"
"Those were her marks for presentation. They're actually pretty good for a first performance.
Chieri grinned at her antsy friend. "It's okay, Yuni, really."
"Has the Princess skated yet? This program only has pictures, not the order they skate in."
"Pictures!?"
"Mm-hmm! Look!"
"Oh my god, my picture's horrible!"
"Hey...her real name isn't Princess!?"
"It isn't?"
"No, it's...Akiyama Canty. Yuni looked at Kouichi curiously. Akiyama...isn't that your last name, Kouichi?"
Hiroshi glanced at his friend. "You didn't tell them?"
"Damn...I didn't want to tell you, Chieri. The Princess...she's my little sister."
"No way! Wait a second...younger sister? She's younger than me?"
Usagi frowned at her friend. "Why didn't you tell us before, Kouichi? Now I see why you know so much about skating..."
"I can't skate. That's why I support Tsuzuki."
"Ah, I see."
"Oh! Miss Cherry!?"
Chieri turned to see a boy with pale hair holding a fluffy white teddy bear.
"Yes?"
"This is for you. He's Cherry the Bear! I'm your number one fan, and he's number two!"
"You're...my fan? Well, thank you."
A crowd of people formed around the duo, chattering excitedly.
"Kikuchi Wataru just gave that new skater a bear!"
"That's not fair!"
A reporter chuckled lightly at the amorous girls surrounding him. "I see that the boys' world junior champion has his sights set on you, Asuka-san!"
"Really? World junior champion?"
She turned her head as Canty brushed past her, heading onto the rink.
"Number 19, Akiyama Canty!"
Wataru wrapped his arms around Chieri as she watched her rival glide around the rink.
"She's so graceful...like a fluttering butterfly..."
"She's called the Princess because even though she's young, she has amazing power on the ice."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Did you really challenge her to a match? There's no way you'll ever beat her. You don't have any personality. You're better suited for pairs...will you pair skate with me?"
"Chieri glared at Wataru and slapped him. "Of course not! Of all the impertinent questions!"
She glanced at the scoreboard, where Canty's scores were appearing on the screen, mainly 5.9's. She scowled angrily and stalked towards the locker room.
***********************
"Chieri? Are you in here?"
"Yeah."
Usagi cautiously walked into the locker room and sat beside her desolate friend.
"You did a good job out there. I'm proud of you!"
"I'm not. The Princess did so much better than me!"
"She's also more experienced. I'll never catch up to her, Usagi!"
"Yes you will. Tomorrow will be better, honest."
"I sure hope so."
"I...ummm...have to go home, I can't stay here with you for the rest of the competition."
"Why not?"
"Family emergency."
"Is it serious?"
"No...but I have to go home. I'll watch from my TV though, promise!"
"Okay. Thanks for coming with me, Usagi."
"No problem. Show them what you're made of on Sunday, okay?"
"I will."
The two girls embraced before Usagi unraveled herself from her friend's arms and went back to her hotel room to transport home.
***********************
"So, you're Sailor Jupiter, huh?"
"I guess so."
"Well, it's great to have you on board!"
"Thank you, Sailor Moon."
"We'll be great friends, I know it! Just don't let Mars get to you. Her bark is worse than her bite. As for Mercury, she's really smart! If you have any questions, she can help you out!"
Usagi grinned at the brunette before her before leading her to the Hikawa Shrine to meet the other senshi.
***********************
Tsuzuki walked into the ice rink, the crowd parting for him, allowing him the ability to freely moved towards the rink.
The crowd began murmuring in awe, and reporters clamored around him.
"Tsuzuki Masanori has just made an appearance...he's coaching the Princess! The rumors are about becoming her coach are true!"
Tsuzuki noticed Chieri as he was swept towards the rink, and the image of her watery eyes would haunt him for the rest of the day.
***********************
Okay, a LOT abrupt...mainly the scene with Jupiter...but the rest of it didn't fit! Tomorrow brings the result of the Block Championship...and look for a VERY special Usagi arc!!!!!!
The end...until tomorrow, that is! Look for the twelth part of this epic tale tomorrow, and don't forget to watch the Olympics on NBC! Every day that you see events taking place, there's going to be a new chapter of this story! We're halfway done now! Whoo-hoo! There are only 5 Chapters to go! Usagi and Tsuzuki's stories are far from over!
Give me the next 5 days to tell you the rest of their story...I promise be worth the ride! ^_^
~Bonnie
February 19, 2002
Day 12 of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics