The bus screeched to a halt in front of Notre Dame. Along with the other passengers, Makoto and Minako exited the bus full of tourists. The terrace in front of the grand cathedral was filled with people. Makoto and Minako opened the large doors leading into the cathedral and stepped inside.
"Wow, this place is even prettier than it is in pictures!" Minako exclaimed as the occupants of the cathedral shot quieting glances at her.
"Yeah, the rose windows are so pretty. This place is almost like solace to me." Makoto said quietly as they walked towards the main alter.
"You mean it's like a sanctuary to you?" Minako asked.
"Mina, this IS a sanctuary." Makoto corrected.
"Oh, that's right. It is, isn't it." Minako laughed shyly.
Makoto approached the altar and lit two candles in honor of her parents who died in a plane crash a long time ago. She then went over to join Minako, who was gazing at the statue of the Virgin Mary. As the two girls walked towards the exit of Notre Dame, Makoto stopped in her tracks. A shot of pain glimmered in her eyes. Minako turned to see why her friend had stopped. Worried, Minako grabbed Makoto's arm.
"Mako-chan, what is it? What's wrong?" Mina screamed.
There was no movement from Makoto. She stared straight ahead.
"Mako-chan? Mako-chan!!! What is it?" Mina screamed as she tugged on Makoto's arm.
"What?" Makoto asked, snapping out of her trance.
"What was it? Why did you stop and just go blank like that?" Mina cried.
"I…I though…" Makoto started. "I thought I saw someone."
"Mako-chan, forget about Ken. He's not good enough for you." Mina said, trying to soothe her friend.
"No, it wasn't Ken. It can't be who I thought it was." Makoto said, regaining her composure.
"Who did you think it was?" Mina inquired.
"No one. It was no one. Don't worry about it Mina-chan." Makoto said.
"But Mako-chan…" Mina started to say.
"It was no one, I am sure of it." Makoto interrupted.
Once outside, Makoto and Minako boarded another bus heading towards the Eiffel Tower, their next stop on their sightseeing tour. Makoto thought about the man she has seen. He looked just like him, but it couldn't be. He had gone back to his own planet. He wouldn't be on Earth, let alone be in Paris. Makoto had had feelings for him a long time ago, but it was a thing of the past. She had kept it secret, and that is how it would remain. Besides, it couldn't have been him. The bus pulled away from the cathedral. Makoto sat back in her seat and watched the cars out of the window as they traveled to the tower.
* * * * * *
"Wow, it really is wonderful." Minako said as she stood in from of the Eiffel Tower.
"Yeah, it reminds me of Tokyo Tower back home." Makoto added.
"I want to go up to the very top!" Minako exclaimed.
"Okay, we can do that." Makoto said as the started walking towards the ticket booth.
The ride up to the top of the Eiffel Tower was a quiet one. Minako knew that something was bothering her friend, something more than the breakup with Ken. Something having to do with the stranger at Notre Dame. Makoto was hiding something. She was afraid of something, or someone. Minako let out a sigh as they reached the top of the tower.
Makoto walked slowly over to the side of the tower. All of Paris lay at her feet. It was as if she were on top of the world. But, Makoto still did not smile. That man…the past…Was it really him? And if it were, where were the others? There really was no reason why he would be here, especially without them. Makoto let out a sigh. If only I could see him again, she thought. Just once more.
"Mako-chan? Are you sure you're alright?" Minako asked, approaching Makoto from the other side of the tower platform.
"Yeah, I'm okay. Just thinking, that's all." Makoto answered sadly.
"Mako-chan?" Minako said, putting her arm around Makoto.
As Makoto looked over the city, she decided that she needed to tell Minako how she felt about the other man she loved. The one no one else knew about. Even though talking about it wouldn't make her dream come true, Makoto would at least have that off her chest. She could feel better about keeping it from everyone. Makoto opened her mouth to tell Mina who she thought she had seen. As the words started to leave her mouth, a gust of wind blew Makoto's green scarf loose from around her neck. Makoto tried to grab the renegade scarf, but was too late. It floated to the ground on the other side of the platform. Makoto ran to the place where her scarf lay. As she knelt down to pick the scarf up, a pair of black men's dress shoes stepped into her line of vision behind the scarf. Minako gasped as she looked at the man's face. Slowly, Makoto moved her eyes up the body of the man. Black polished dress shoes. Tailored black dress slacks. A nice reddish silk shirt with a black silk tie. A jacket to match the tailored black dress slacks in hand. Finally, Makoto's gaze fell onto the man's face. Onto his eyes.
"Seiya-kun…" Makoto whispered as she looked into his blue eyes.