Held by the Wings of an Angel
The Cherry Project-Part Fourteen
By Bonnie-Chan
Email: hunniebunny@aol.com
Web page: http://www.geocities.com/sailor_moon_rose/
Today is February 23, 2002
Welcome back! Here's part fourteen…the second to last part!!
Wasn't last night's skating exhibition pretty? And so fun!!
Only two chapters left…I don't know if I should cheer or cry!!!
Welcome to Day Sixteen 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, ending tomorrow. 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!
***********Special! If you guys could help me out, I'd be really grateful! I need opinions for a fic I'm working on…If you could put it in a review for me, that would be really great! My question is: Who are your favorite actors AND why. For example, did you like Legolias from "Lord of the Rings" because he was cute? Did you like Brendan Fraser's body after seeing him in "George of the Jungle" where he ran around half-naked? Do you like Freddie Prinze Jr's smile, Ryan Phillipe's butt, etc, etc. It doesn't make sense now, I can't explain it, but if you could tell me, then thanks! And I'll give you a special dedication, too! ::gringrin::***********
_____________________________
Held By the Wings of an Angel
The Cherry Project: Part Fourteen
By Bonnie-Chan
_____________________________
"Tsuzuki!? This…it isn't fair…there's no way I can beat the Princess…" Chieri saw Tsuzuki looking at her and ran from the room.
"Tsuzuki? You said you wouldn't pair skate anymore. You already know what will happen…that defective girl…she will never beat me! She's nothing but an expressionless clone!"
"It's my fault she's that way. My fault she's broken. I have to fix her now. She has surmounted the wall of not being able to skate, and now she's just one step away…this match with you…it's the final finish. When I said that I'd skate pairs with the winner…she'll chase after this dream for sure."
But…you mean…is she wins, you'll-" Canty's eyes narrowed at the blond-haired boy standing before her. "By becoming my coach, choosing the same music for me as her…this was all set-up in advance, wasn't it?"
"It was the quickest remedy for her shock. She has to feel emotions. She's only made it this far because of you, Canty!"
"You mean…you did all of this for that…that girl!?"
"It was true that I wanted to make you a better skater, Canty."
She glared at him, raised her hand, and slapped him across the cheek. "I refuse to be a part of your project, Tsuzuki! You're a cruel person! Leading me on like that…Well guess what? I won't be beaten by an illiterate fool like her, I won't! You just gambled on the wrong person!" She turned around and stalked out of the rink and into the locker room.
"Getting two girls to walk angrily away from me in one day...that's gotta be a record!"
***********************
"Tsuzuki? It's late. Why do you always come in so late? Because of your skating?" He pulled a cream-colored ticket out of his breast pocket. "This is a one-way ticket to New York. You leave this Saturday…January 10th. It's time for you to give up these ridiculous dreams and immerse yourself in the wonderful world of business."
"Wait a minute! You said I had another year yet, Father! I still have to-"
"Skating isn't work, Masanori! It means nothing at all!"
Tsuzuki glanced over at the calendar, where a big red circle was drawn around the 10th. "All-Japan…"
"How many times have I told you, Masanori? Don't engross yourself in skating! It stole your mother's life, it won't steal yours. Your life belongs to me, I need you as my heir."
"Father…I have obligations…"
"Family before pleasure, Masanori. Always. Family and obligation before pleasure."
***********************
"Tsuzuki! Did you really tell the girls that you would skate pairs with the winner?"
"Yeah, Kouichi, I did."
"It's impossible for her to beat the Princess now! She's not ready yet!" Hiroshi glared at his friend, shaking his head in disgust.
"What if Canty wins? Will you skate with her? She isn't suited for pairs, and you know it. Why are you doing this?"
"According to all the girls in my life right now, it's because I'm a cruel jerk."
Tsuzuki…"
"Yes, Hiroshi?"
"If I were in your shoes…I would choose love over obligation."
"Yeah, I would choose my dreams and goals over anyone else's. After all, it's your life, not your father's."
"No, you're wrong. Both of you. I no longer have the power to make dreams come true. I manipulated the girls, bent them to achieve my goals…and all for nothing."
"Tsuzuki, because of you, Cherry is overexerting herself, injuring her hips! Just like your mother did. And she'd doing it all for you. For you, Tsuzuki! Because she loves you, and she wants to be with you, no matter what the cost! So what will you do about it, Tsuzuki? What will you do?"
"I don't know, Kouichi. I don't know anything anymore." He sank down into a stiff office chair and buried his head in his lap, finally giving in to defeat.
***********************
"Damnit, not again!" Chieri tiredly picked herself up from the ice, steadying herself before begin to skate around the rink again.
"Stop this, Cherry! Can't you see that you're harming yourself!?"
"Tsuzuki!?" She looked towards him, losing her momentum, and crashed to the ice.
"Stop these impossible jumps, you'll break your hips and never be able to skate again!"
"Why do you care? They're my hips!"
"My mother was a skater…she tried for the impossible…just like you. She ruined her hips…and when she gave birth to me, her hips couldn't handle the pressure…she died…that's why my dad hates the fact that I skate. I'm the only person he has left."
"Another factor to link us together…my mother also died when I was young."
He looked into her kind face and couldn't help but think, I see it now…why Father is so concerned…I don't want to lose her…I couldn't stand it if I lost her now…
"To beat the Princess…I need to perfect the quad. I can't run away anymore, Tsuzuki, I have to do this!"
He tenderly touched her face and smiled. "You've become so strong…"
The moment was broken as a security guard entered the rink and yelled at them to go home.
"Come on, Cherry, let's go."
"It's not fair…the Princess is still allowed to skate…"
"Her father owns the rink."
"That's right…"
"Come on, you can practice in my rink."
"Really?"
"Yeah, come on. Just don't skate if you feel any pain, okay? You can do it…you have the heart. Just don't harm yourself, okay?"
"Okay, Tsuzuki, I promise."
She grinned at him and they left the rink in companionable silence.
***********************
"Usagi, hi!"
"Mamoru!" She grinned at him cheerfully. "How are you today?"
"I'm surviving."
"Always a good thing." She kept up her brisk pace home as he trailed her. "So, what's up? Anything in particular, or do you just feel like stalking me today?"
"Well, if I stalk you I can learn some more of your bad habits to tease you about."
"Cute."
"I know I am."
"Conceited, too. However does your head get through the door everyday?"
"Years of practice, my dear. Years of practice."
"Right." She rolled her eyes before continuing on.
"So, how are you feeling today?"
"Fine, why?"
"Well, I saw you massaging your wrist earlier…looks kinda painful."
"Oh, that." She waved dismissively with her good hand. "I just hurt it a bit yesterday, no big deal."
"What happened?"
"Nothing, really."
"Nothing?"
"Nope."
"Then why does it hurt so much?"
"Little things will do it, I dunno. Geez, what's with all the questions? It's as though I'm a murder suspect or something!"
"Usagi?"
"Yes?"
He grabbed onto her wrist, bringing her to a halt. "What happened?"
He whirled her around to face him.
"Ow, Mamoru, you're hurting me!"
His grip on her wrist loosened, but he didn't let go of her. "Why didn't you ever tell me that you were Sailor Moon, Usagi?"
***********************
"Go, Cherry! You can do it! Go skate your heart out!"
Chieri grinned at her friends nervously, handing Yuni her lavender skate guards and heading towards the ice. She looked around as though she were missing something before heading to the middle of the rink.
From the monitor, Tsuzuki watched her every move as she began the All-Japan short program, his heart heavy in his chest.
***********************
Only One chapter left…tomorrow is the final day of the Olympics! I love the closing games…I'm a bit sad it's so close to over, though!
The end...until tomorrow, that is! Look for the final 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 almost done now! Whoo-hoo! There's only 1 more Chapter to go! Usagi and Tsuzuki's stories are far from over, but it's almost time for my story to end.
Give me the next day to tell you the rest of their story...I promise it will be worth the ride! ^_^
February 23, 2002
Day 16 of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics
The Cherry Project-Part Fourteen
By Bonnie-Chan
Email: hunniebunny@aol.com
Web page: http://www.geocities.com/sailor_moon_rose/
Today is February 23, 2002
Welcome back! Here's part fourteen…the second to last part!!
Wasn't last night's skating exhibition pretty? And so fun!!
Only two chapters left…I don't know if I should cheer or cry!!!
Welcome to Day Sixteen 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, ending tomorrow. 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!
***********Special! If you guys could help me out, I'd be really grateful! I need opinions for a fic I'm working on…If you could put it in a review for me, that would be really great! My question is: Who are your favorite actors AND why. For example, did you like Legolias from "Lord of the Rings" because he was cute? Did you like Brendan Fraser's body after seeing him in "George of the Jungle" where he ran around half-naked? Do you like Freddie Prinze Jr's smile, Ryan Phillipe's butt, etc, etc. It doesn't make sense now, I can't explain it, but if you could tell me, then thanks! And I'll give you a special dedication, too! ::gringrin::***********
_____________________________
Held By the Wings of an Angel
The Cherry Project: Part Fourteen
By Bonnie-Chan
_____________________________
"Tsuzuki!? This…it isn't fair…there's no way I can beat the Princess…" Chieri saw Tsuzuki looking at her and ran from the room.
"Tsuzuki? You said you wouldn't pair skate anymore. You already know what will happen…that defective girl…she will never beat me! She's nothing but an expressionless clone!"
"It's my fault she's that way. My fault she's broken. I have to fix her now. She has surmounted the wall of not being able to skate, and now she's just one step away…this match with you…it's the final finish. When I said that I'd skate pairs with the winner…she'll chase after this dream for sure."
But…you mean…is she wins, you'll-" Canty's eyes narrowed at the blond-haired boy standing before her. "By becoming my coach, choosing the same music for me as her…this was all set-up in advance, wasn't it?"
"It was the quickest remedy for her shock. She has to feel emotions. She's only made it this far because of you, Canty!"
"You mean…you did all of this for that…that girl!?"
"It was true that I wanted to make you a better skater, Canty."
She glared at him, raised her hand, and slapped him across the cheek. "I refuse to be a part of your project, Tsuzuki! You're a cruel person! Leading me on like that…Well guess what? I won't be beaten by an illiterate fool like her, I won't! You just gambled on the wrong person!" She turned around and stalked out of the rink and into the locker room.
"Getting two girls to walk angrily away from me in one day...that's gotta be a record!"
***********************
"Tsuzuki? It's late. Why do you always come in so late? Because of your skating?" He pulled a cream-colored ticket out of his breast pocket. "This is a one-way ticket to New York. You leave this Saturday…January 10th. It's time for you to give up these ridiculous dreams and immerse yourself in the wonderful world of business."
"Wait a minute! You said I had another year yet, Father! I still have to-"
"Skating isn't work, Masanori! It means nothing at all!"
Tsuzuki glanced over at the calendar, where a big red circle was drawn around the 10th. "All-Japan…"
"How many times have I told you, Masanori? Don't engross yourself in skating! It stole your mother's life, it won't steal yours. Your life belongs to me, I need you as my heir."
"Father…I have obligations…"
"Family before pleasure, Masanori. Always. Family and obligation before pleasure."
***********************
"Tsuzuki! Did you really tell the girls that you would skate pairs with the winner?"
"Yeah, Kouichi, I did."
"It's impossible for her to beat the Princess now! She's not ready yet!" Hiroshi glared at his friend, shaking his head in disgust.
"What if Canty wins? Will you skate with her? She isn't suited for pairs, and you know it. Why are you doing this?"
"According to all the girls in my life right now, it's because I'm a cruel jerk."
Tsuzuki…"
"Yes, Hiroshi?"
"If I were in your shoes…I would choose love over obligation."
"Yeah, I would choose my dreams and goals over anyone else's. After all, it's your life, not your father's."
"No, you're wrong. Both of you. I no longer have the power to make dreams come true. I manipulated the girls, bent them to achieve my goals…and all for nothing."
"Tsuzuki, because of you, Cherry is overexerting herself, injuring her hips! Just like your mother did. And she'd doing it all for you. For you, Tsuzuki! Because she loves you, and she wants to be with you, no matter what the cost! So what will you do about it, Tsuzuki? What will you do?"
"I don't know, Kouichi. I don't know anything anymore." He sank down into a stiff office chair and buried his head in his lap, finally giving in to defeat.
***********************
"Damnit, not again!" Chieri tiredly picked herself up from the ice, steadying herself before begin to skate around the rink again.
"Stop this, Cherry! Can't you see that you're harming yourself!?"
"Tsuzuki!?" She looked towards him, losing her momentum, and crashed to the ice.
"Stop these impossible jumps, you'll break your hips and never be able to skate again!"
"Why do you care? They're my hips!"
"My mother was a skater…she tried for the impossible…just like you. She ruined her hips…and when she gave birth to me, her hips couldn't handle the pressure…she died…that's why my dad hates the fact that I skate. I'm the only person he has left."
"Another factor to link us together…my mother also died when I was young."
He looked into her kind face and couldn't help but think, I see it now…why Father is so concerned…I don't want to lose her…I couldn't stand it if I lost her now…
"To beat the Princess…I need to perfect the quad. I can't run away anymore, Tsuzuki, I have to do this!"
He tenderly touched her face and smiled. "You've become so strong…"
The moment was broken as a security guard entered the rink and yelled at them to go home.
"Come on, Cherry, let's go."
"It's not fair…the Princess is still allowed to skate…"
"Her father owns the rink."
"That's right…"
"Come on, you can practice in my rink."
"Really?"
"Yeah, come on. Just don't skate if you feel any pain, okay? You can do it…you have the heart. Just don't harm yourself, okay?"
"Okay, Tsuzuki, I promise."
She grinned at him and they left the rink in companionable silence.
***********************
"Usagi, hi!"
"Mamoru!" She grinned at him cheerfully. "How are you today?"
"I'm surviving."
"Always a good thing." She kept up her brisk pace home as he trailed her. "So, what's up? Anything in particular, or do you just feel like stalking me today?"
"Well, if I stalk you I can learn some more of your bad habits to tease you about."
"Cute."
"I know I am."
"Conceited, too. However does your head get through the door everyday?"
"Years of practice, my dear. Years of practice."
"Right." She rolled her eyes before continuing on.
"So, how are you feeling today?"
"Fine, why?"
"Well, I saw you massaging your wrist earlier…looks kinda painful."
"Oh, that." She waved dismissively with her good hand. "I just hurt it a bit yesterday, no big deal."
"What happened?"
"Nothing, really."
"Nothing?"
"Nope."
"Then why does it hurt so much?"
"Little things will do it, I dunno. Geez, what's with all the questions? It's as though I'm a murder suspect or something!"
"Usagi?"
"Yes?"
He grabbed onto her wrist, bringing her to a halt. "What happened?"
He whirled her around to face him.
"Ow, Mamoru, you're hurting me!"
His grip on her wrist loosened, but he didn't let go of her. "Why didn't you ever tell me that you were Sailor Moon, Usagi?"
***********************
"Go, Cherry! You can do it! Go skate your heart out!"
Chieri grinned at her friends nervously, handing Yuni her lavender skate guards and heading towards the ice. She looked around as though she were missing something before heading to the middle of the rink.
From the monitor, Tsuzuki watched her every move as she began the All-Japan short program, his heart heavy in his chest.
***********************
Only One chapter left…tomorrow is the final day of the Olympics! I love the closing games…I'm a bit sad it's so close to over, though!
The end...until tomorrow, that is! Look for the final 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 almost done now! Whoo-hoo! There's only 1 more Chapter to go! Usagi and Tsuzuki's stories are far from over, but it's almost time for my story to end.
Give me the next day to tell you the rest of their story...I promise it will be worth the ride! ^_^
February 23, 2002
Day 16 of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics