AN:  hello again, min'na-san.  Thank you for all the reviews, they're all greatly appreciated.  I'm sorry for the long delay but my 3 all-time fav animes were shown here in our country together for the first time since I was in grade six, so I was just too distracted. Anyways, here's chap 14, a scene in here is inspired from an episode of Meteor Garden. . . *sigh* have I told you guys lately how much I love that show?

MoonlightUsa:  you hate seiya?  Doshite?  I kinda like him.  anyways, you have no idea how thrilled I am for a new reader.  Thanks a lot for reviewing.

kirei*snow*tenshi:  I promise I'll try not to disappoint you guys.  There'll be just three more chaps to go so you guys will find out soon enough.  Just as always, arigatou!

Lady Imp:  *blush* wow. Arigatou! I don't think anyone ever described any of my chapters 'excellent' before.  Thanks again.

missaw:  *sigh* I sooo love yusuke, well next to ranma and mamochan that is.  Ranma, yusuke and mamochan are my 3 favorite anime males. ^_^ anyways, thanks for reviewing again.

Christine: hi! *winks* Tnx for the email.

SteelHeartrose:  *bows very low* domo arigatou gozaimashita!!! 

Lady Mischief:  hey there! Tnx for the review!  anyways, hontou ka?  Well then I must be doing a terrible job on my characterization of seiya!  As I've said I like him and I don't want people hating him, I want them to sympathize with him. . . oh well. . . enjoy this next chap.

Jabba1:  I'm sorry about that. . . anyways, arigatou for reviewing yet again. :p

Shahrezad1:  hehe, I know it was cruel of me to have left it there. . . gomen. Anyways, tnx for the review!

Sakura:  true, a lot think it's only destiny between them and so it has always been my biggest frustration how the R season made mamo break up with usa.  Some boy classmates used to tease me saying that mamo loved only serenity bcoz as in the story, king endymion warned him that he needs to break up with usa or else something will happen to serenity. hayyyy, it made me sooooo mad!!!!! Hehe, anyways, tnx for reviewing again!

Karla:  Arigatou for reviewing!  I'm glad you like the last chap.  I hope you continue enjoying my fic. 

Tita-kun:  hi! *winks* tnx for the review!

IchigoTaiyono:  Pluto?  Whatever made you think it's Pluto? . . . oh well, thanks for reviewing. . . oh by the way you're right :p

Eternity's Angel:  hi! U changed ur name, it's cool. Anyways, thanks for both the email and review.  You said I caught you by surprise?  I hope it was in a good way. ^^ here is the next chap, hope I didn't make you wait long.

moonangel1:  hehe, gomen ne. anyways, as much as I like seiya, there are times that I really do want to whack his head.  But I can never hurt usa, I don't want haruka going after me or sadden mamochan more. ^^ thanks for reviewing again!

Xylus Star:  tnx for reviewing again.  Umm, do you still like jerry? *biting lips* gomen ne but I like him too now, even more than zaizai. . . Anyways, great guess!  You are right about mamo, so this chap is dedicated to you too.

Jing2:  arigatou for reviewing again.

Disclaimer:  Sailor Moon's not mine. . . Takeuchi Naoko, Toei, Bandai and Kodansha does. *sigh* My 19th birthday is coming up soon and my only wish is Mamo-chan. Min'na, do you think if I ask for it, Usagi-chan would let me have mamochan for a while?

"If you truly love someone never let go, just hold on.  Don't believe that letting go means you loved best.  Instead, fight for your love, that's what true love is."

"Give up?  Why give up?  If I wanted to give up, I would have given up the first time we couldn't be together, I can't give up because I know in the end, it'll still be the two of us." –Dao Ming Si(Meteor Garden, episode 19)

god!  I love those words. . . *sigh* I love that scene. . . *double sigh* I love that guy. . . yan xheng xu, wo ai ni!!! (better not let boyfriend see this) this chap is dedicated to both IchigoTaiyono and Xylus Star!

Chapter 14:  A Princess and A Keeper

      Usagi stopped at the entrance of their living room.  She rolled her eyes in exasperation at the sight of her boyfriend, practically absorbing the words of the book that he was reading.

      She pouted, already whacking her brain for ways to get him put his precious book down long enough to at least give her a proper kiss.

      But Usagi's train of thoughts died down as the early afternoon light poured into the room, caressing her boyfriend's fine features.

      She blinked a few times.  It was Seiya.

What was she thinking?  Of course it was Seiya.

Usagi's brows furrowed.

What is he doing?  Reading the way he is, so engrossed he looks like he's Mamo-

No, he doesn't, another part of her insisted.

Usagi took a deep breath and looked over closely again.  Seiya was lounging comfortably in the love seat, reading a small paperback book, which was probably some new sci-fi fiction.

You're not the nineties' Tsukino Usagi anymore, Usagi reminded herself.  She's no longer that girl who would have to fight every published textbook there is for her boyfriend's attention. 

Usagi brushed that though aside, reminding herself her promise not to dwell on any topic concerning her past.  So after composing herself, she walked over to her boyfriend. She flopped down beside him, then turned to him with a teasing smile

"Tell me you're not studying, are you?" she asked in mocked seriousness.

Seiya raised his eyes from his book towards her.  He smiled.  "Nope, not in a million years."

Usagi smiled back.

No wonder people tell them they're so perfect for each other.  The two of them were two of a kind.  In this lifetime, she actually gets decent grades, but that doesn't mean she study as diligently the way Ami does. It was the same with Seiya, he passes his subjects, but it doesn't deduce he enjoyed studying the way Taiki does.  Furely, the two of them does not take studies as seriously as Mamoru does.

For a moment, Usagi's smile faltered.  No matter how hard she tries, Mamoru's name still causes her heart to burn with pain.  But gazing into Seiya's sweet face, she quickly brushes her mood aside.

"You better not be," Usagi said, keeping her voice light.  "Or else, I'd say you're sick!"

Seiya only continued to smile, he closed his book, set it down on the table before finally turning back to her.  He leaned over and gave her a long gentle kiss.

For a few seconds, Usagi was lost in the delicious feel of Seiya's lips on hers.

"Did you like the book, Seiya-kun?"

The two of them broke apart.  Standing by the door of the living room was Tsukino Shringo.

Even the two of them have been going out for ages, Usagi felt the blood rushing to her cheeks to be caught by her dad.  She stole a glance at Seiya.  He seemed perfectly composed.

"Hai, oji-san.  It's quite interesting," he answered Usagi's father.

That's another difference between Seiya and Mamo-cha. . . Mamoru.

Chiba Mamoru would have freaked out with the simple idea of kissing in the Tsukino house, much less to be caught by her father. He'd probably get a heart attack.  But here was Seiya, acting as cool as the icebergs in the Atlantic.

"Well you can borrow it if you want," Tsukino Shringo's voice offered, bringing Usagi out of her musings.

"Arigatou, oji-san."

Usagi waited until her father walked off before asking Seiya.  "What was that all about?"

"It's nothng, really Odango.  You see when I arrived oji-san was reading this book.  I asked him if it was good then he just stood up and said I could read it if I want."

Usagi watched as Seiya picked the book again.  "So you're trying to impress otousan?" she teased.

Seiya shook his head and opened the book.  "Actually it really is quite interesting, Odango."

Usagi smiled, unconvinced that he was telling the truth.  "Hontou?  What's it about?"

Seiya turned to her and answered.

"Destiny."

Usagi froze, she stared long and hard at Seiya, trying her best to read behind those unreadable blue eyes.

That night, almost three weeks ago when she came running home, crying, she found Seiya in their living room.  He didn't demand any explanation as to why she missed his concert, not one.  He only held his arms for her to take which she did.

She cried an ocean of tears that night.  And she felt so guilty that it was because of another man and yet Seiya was enveloping her as if silently saying he'll never let anyone hurt her again.

She tried to explain but she couldn't bring herself to open her mouth.  So she continued to cry and prayed Seiya understands.

Finally, before falling asleep, she heard him whisper so very softly, "It doesn't matter, I understand.  I understand everything."

The next morning, she woke up still fully dressed in her bed.  Seiya must have carried her up to her room and left after she fell asleep.

His gesture touched her so deeply, she felt a lump rise in her throat for betraying him.  She resolved then that her past, everything in it, means nothing more to her. She loves her present.  And the future. . . she'll worry about it when it comes.

She also decided that she had to explain to Seiya, but then his words came back to her.

"It doesn't matter, I understand.  I understand everything."

Everything. 

He understands everything?  Does that mean he knows about Mamoru too?  It was not possible.  Not possible at all.

So when she next saw him, she tried to talk about what happened.  But just like before, Seiya answered that he understands.

He obviously didn't want to talk about it so Usagi stopped trying.  It was a hard topic for her to explain anyway.  She just concluded that there is no way for Seiya to know, so there was nothing to worry.  Nothing at all.

Yes, Usagi reassured herself once more. He doesn't know anything.  There is no malice in what he has just said, Usagi reassured herself.

      Usagi forced a smile on her lips.  "I didn't know you believe in such things?"

      Seiya smiled.  "No.  I don't believe in destiny.  But there's an interesting theory here."

      "And that is?"

      "Karma," he said simply.  "In this book, the author defined karma in a totally new perspective.  She explains that karma delays destiny."  Seiya smiled at Usagi, "Remember when you said what if we're not destined together?"

      Usagi nodded.

      "Well if we're not, then I must have done something good in my past life to get a good karma and be with you now," Seiya said in mocked seriousness.

      Usagi couldn't help but smile.  Seiya's innocent smile, how could she ever doubt it?  And his honest eyes, how could she suspect them of hiding something?

      Seiya smiled in return.  He leaned over for another kiss.

      Moments later he pulled away and smiled down at her again.

      "Or it could be that your destined partner did something that caused him to get bad karma."

      What did I do to deserve this?

      This question was haunting Chiba Mamoru endlessly.  He'd been asking this question all his life but for the past three weeks, he's been asking it more often.

      "Don't call me Usako, that's a name for a lover to use.  And there's nothing like love between us. . . only destiny, Endymion."

      Those words had pierced his heart more deeply than any dagger could ever do.

      He knew it with the whole of his heart that it wasn't true.  He do love her!  Love her so deeply and true that being without her is almost like physical pain.

      If only she had let him explain, he knows he can make her understand. . . if only. . .

      Suddenly, there was buzzing on his door.  Mamoru groaned, it was probably one of the senshis, trying to cheer him up.

      The buzzing continued and Mamoru continued to ignore it.

      "Your Highness," a voice from the other side of the door called.  "Please open up the door, my prince.  This is-"

      She need not have finish. Mamoru already had the door opened.

      He stared at the woman before him.  The sight of her familiar wise red eyes gave him a sense of reassurance.

      "Pluto."

      Meioh Setsuna watched as her prince stared at the princess of Kimnoku.  She couldn't blame him.  But for the red hair and red eyes, indeed Tendo Keiko looked a lot like their princess, Serenity of the Silver Millenium.

      But Keiko wouldn't look up at earth prince's face.  She had told Setsuna beforehand how she feel it was not right to ask him help when he was on the same problem here.  For like Keiko, Mamoru's destiny was in jeopardy.

      Finally after a long silence, Keiko whispered, "Setsuna had explained everything to me.  I understand that you are the prince of this planet.  Gomen nasai, Mamoru-san.  Maybe if I never escaped to earth before then maybe Galaxia would never have followed me here, then you and Sereni. . . this wouldn't have happened."

      Mamoru opened his lips to reassure the Kimnoku princess that it wasn't her fault, but he faltered.

      Meioh Setsuna, had not been Sailor Pluto in vain.  Standing by the gate of time and space, she had watched a three millennia history of the earth unfold.  So as she watched the prince's expression, she knew exactly what he was thinking.

He was wondering.  Wondering what if Kakyuu and her Star Lights had never come to earth, would that have changed anything?  No, he answered his own question.  Galaxia wanted all of the Star seeds, she would have come to the earth sooner or later.

Then Setsuna was shock to the expression she next read on the prince's face.  Regret.  Could the prince be thinking it was somehow his fault?  Was he thinking that something could have changed if he never left for America back then?

"Ōji–sama."

Slowly, Mamoru's eyes focused towards her and she felt that strange feeling she always do when the prince looked at her.  And for the thousandth time, she confirmed that the earth prince has the bluest eyes, deeper than the oceans.

"Your Highness, please don't think like that," Setsuna finally began.

"You don't understand, Setsuna.  I'm afraid because I remember clearly, before you said it's possible to change the future so I can't help feel thinking this is all my fault."

"No," Setsuna said firmly.  "I do understand and I'm sure you didn't do anything, ōji-sama."

The prince of the earth remained quiet, but his eyes were pleading for reassurance.

Without thinking, Setsuna got up from her seat and walked over to her prince.  "And yes, I did say before that the future can be change but situation now is totally different, it could be that it has not changed yet."

She almost reach  her hand over to touch him, but she quickly stopped herself.  Sitting in front of her was Endymion. . . Mamoru, her princess's Mamoru, it would have been improper and just not right.

"Your and Serenity-himesama's destiny will never change.  Before I did tell hime-sama that the future might change because Neherenia held you captive, and for that lifetime, if you have not wakened up, the future would have changed but remember that every time you are resurrected, destiny will start all over again."

"I'll do anything to help you, Your Highness," Setsuna continued.  "As the gatekeeper of time and space, if you wish I could go over to the future and see what will become of this present time.  Or if you rather that I go to the past to find out what happened that is delaying destiny-"

Setsuna's voice failed her suddenly when Mamoru's hand touched hers.

"Setsuna, arigatou."

Why am I here again? Usagi asked herself as the elevator doors opened.

I shouldn't be here.  And yet, Usagi found herself stepping out into the hallway.

Finally, she stopped in front of his door.  Just this one time. . . this will be the last. . . I have to. . . I want to. . .

Usagi raised her hand and pressed the buzzer.

Usagi heard someone shuffling towards the door and Usagi mentally prepared herself.  She had to be strong. . . she had be. . .

Slowly the door opened. . . Usagi gasped.

She did too.

Usagi stared back numbly at her.  It was Kakyuu.  Princess Kakyuu of Kimnoku.  The Star Light's very own princess. . . Seiya's princess. . .

But she shouldn't have been surprised.  Just like her senshis, the Star Lights were resurrected too.  The senshis were reborn because they were destined to protect her.  And so if Yaten, Taiki and Seiya are alive, it should mean Kakyuu is alive too.

If the Star Lights have always been meant to protect Kakyuu, then why should it happen that I have to meet the three of them sooner?

 . . . karma delays destiny, Seiya's voice echoed in Usagi's mind.

Something. . . something is delaying their destiny too.  Usagi continued to stare at Kakyuu's reincarnation, I wonder what she did. . . or maybe it was Yaten, or even Taiki. . . it could even be Sei-

"Usako."

Usagi looked up behind Kakyuu to see Mamoru.  The ability of speech left her body all at once.  Mamoru looked so tired. . . but his eyes they were full of happiness. . .

Suddenly, she found herself enveloped in his arms.  "You've come back," he whispered.  He buried his head in her neck.

And all at once, her resolve vanished into thin air.  She trembled slightly, Mamoru's long lashes were tickling upon her skin.  She turned her head away, trying to escape his embrace.

And that's when she finally saw her.

Meioh Setsuna. . . Sailor Pluto!

Usagi stared disbelievingly at Setsuna, her head beginning to spin.

As the gatekeeper of time and space, Sailor Pluto is always suppose to stand and guard the Gate of Time.  Only history-changing matters could make her leave her place.  Like the time when Neherenia and Galaxia came.  Like when Uranus and Neptune needed the third Talisman.  Like when she needed Sailor Moon, Tuxedo Mask and the inner senshis to help change the situation in the future.  The future were she and Mamoru ruled as queen and king.

Usagi quickly pulled away from Mamoru.  She tried not to think so much about the pained expression in his eyes.  She focused her attention on Setsuna.

"I didn't think you'd be here too," she said quietly.

"Ōjo-sama, gomen nasai.  I should have gone to see you first."

"Then why didn't you?"  There was resentment in Usagi's voice.  She saw how her tone surprised Setsuna.  Standing at her side Mamoru was staring at her too in disbelief too.  Maybe even Kakyuu was surprised.

A part of Usagi wanted to take back her words but another part of her shut this part completely.  Now she could only listened helplessly as the other Usagi released so many pent up emotions.

"Tell me Pluto, why have you come to see your prince first?  Are you somehow planning to change something again?"  The accusation in her own voice surprised Usagi more than anyone else in the room, she took a deep breath and tried to get her control back.  "But it doesn't matter," she continued.  She looked back at Mamoru, steeling herself from him.  "Mamoru, it's useless to deny that we are meant to be together.  So what really puzzles me is why did this happened?"

"This?" Mamoru echoed dully.

"Yes.  This.  I believed something has happened in our last lifetime that changed our destiny. . . maybe not permanently but for now at least. . . or maybe  even for this lifetime."  Usagi lowered her gaze.  Her next words were to be the hardest.

"Usa-"

"Mamoru," she began.  "What did you do?  What did you do to cause all of these?"

He didn't answer her.  There was only silence.

Tentatively, Usagi began to lift her head.  She saw his hands reached for her, she tried to evade but he was too fast.  His lips were already on hers.

She pulled away.

"Mamo-"

"Aish'teru."

"Aish'teru," Mamoru repeated.  Wrapping his arms around her waist once more, she pulled her to him and leaned into her lips again. 

Her lips were soft, so very soft.  But they remained passive.  Bringing his hands up, he traced her jaw and let his hands travel down her neck.  His passion doubled as his fingertips exulted in the feel of her smooth skin.

He continued to kiss her a few more moments before he pulled away.

"Usako, aish'teru."

Usagi slowly opened her eyes.  She was almost in tears.  He was too.

"You're confuse," Mamoru whispered, a hint of fear was in his voice.

Yes.  He was scared.  Scared that Usagi wasn't really confuse as he wished she was, that she knows exactly what she's saying.  And what she wanted to say was she didn't trust him.

Trust.  Without trust, there could be no love.  What is passion, longing and affection without trust?  Nothing.  Nothing at all.

Mamoru leaned down and buried his head into her neck.  "You're just confuse," he sobbed into her hair.  "Last time, you ran off, saying it's just destiny between us and you don't want it."  He felt her hair had gone wet against his cheek.  "And now, you tell me to just accept it just the way it is now?"

He pulled away and once more stared into her eyes and right into her very soul.  "Yes, we are destined for each other.  I am destined to be with you."

"With you," he continued.  "But something must have happened, yes.  Because you don't seemed like the person I was meant to be with at all."

Usagi's eyes grew impossibly large and pressed to him as she was, he felt her heart stopped its beating.

"Because I was destined to find the Moon Princess of my dreams.  The princess who sang to me when I couldn't sleep during all those long lonely nights at the orphanage.  The princess who held me and made me feel loved when no one else could be there for me."

"You're neither that girl who gazed up at me with dreamy eyes every time I would take her into my arms and save her from all the dangers of the Dark Kingdom.   Sailor Moon.  Sailor Moon, who would sigh every time I stepped into a fight to protect her."

"And you can't be the girl who teased me with her innocent smiles.  The first Tsukino Usagi, the girl who drives me crazy with her love for life. . . love for me."  Even Mamoru heard the tremble in his voice.

"And yet, even though I was meant to relieve those precious moments with my princess again, to be reborn again for Sailor Moon, to share my life again with that Tsukino Usagi. . . I found myself looking at you. . . you, the Tsukino Usagi who would gaze up at me and smile but friendly.  You, who would be rather be held by another guy.  You, who find all reasons just to escape me."

 Mamoru leaned over and rested his forehead on hers.  His face mere millimeters from her heart-breakingly beautiful face.  "I love you, Tsukino Usagi.  I really really do love you.  This isn't just destiny.  I love you as much as I adore and worship Serenity. . . I love you as much as I longed and yearned for Sailor Moon. . . I love you as much as I love that first Tsukino Usagi."

He leaned closer and gave her the briefest of kisses.  Doing that had put his defenses down, though.  He wanted nothing more than just kiss her but he had to make her understand. . .

"Maybe it was destiny with her too.  Destiny that we would always somehow ran into each other.  But it wasn't destiny's hand anymore every time, I found myself staring right into her big blue eyes after every bump, crash or knock.  Maybe it was destiny that she be Serenity, but it wasn't destiny's control anymore that I found myself falling for her for who she is. . . a girl with a heart bigger than the galaxy."

Missing the feel of her lips, Mamoru touched his lips to hers once more.  He must have finally broken through Usagi's defenses for she kissed him back.  Tentatively, seemingly still unsure.  But that was enough to give him hope.

"I loved her with my whole heart and soul, I would never, could never have done anything that might ever take her away from me," Mamoru whispered, his lips touching hers as he spoke.

Usagi kissed him back, decidedly a few more moments before wrenching herself from his grasp.

"Mamo-chan."

The tears in his eyes couldn't have been happier.  "Usako."

But Usagi shook her head.  She shook her head.

"Gomen nasai for thinking that way Mamo-chan."  Her eyes filled with tears once more.  "You're right, I am confuse, it's just that I. . . I need some time.  Seiya and I. . . "

Mamoru's whole body froze.  He knew what was coming!  He couldn't bear it!  He couldn't bear to hear her say she'll still choose Seiya!

Had he been wrong?  Maybe it wasn't just destiny Usagi had been upset about.  Maybe. . . just maybe she really does love Seiya.

Mamoru felt his heart contract tightly and he couldn't breath.

But suddenly, Mamoru found himself embraced by Usagi's warmth.  She buried her face into his chest.  "Some day, we will be together," she promised.  "But not now.  Gomen nasai."  She looked up and stared at him, she went on tiptoe to press her lips to his.

Before he could even respond, she pulled away.  "For now," she continued, disengaging her arms around him.  "Give it up, Mamoru."

Give it up, Mamoru. . . give it up, Mamoru. . . give it up, Mamoru. . . her voice continued to echo on Mamoru's head.

Memories flashed before his eyes.  The first time they met, rounding a corner, he had bumped into her, her magazine flew from her hands as he landed on top of her. . . strolling along the park during Valentines Day, last year. . . their secret rendezvous on her birthday. . .

Suddenly, he snapped out of his thoughts as Usagi turned around.  She wanted to walk away again. . . walk away for good. . .

He reached for her wrist.  "Matte."

She didn't say anything even when he came behind her and wrapped his arms around her.  "I'll do anything for you. . . I'll wait. . . I'll wait if you want me too, I'll keep this love until you accept me again," Mamoru said thickly.  "But I can't give you up. . . I'll never give you up."

Usagi didn't say anything to reassure or encourage Mamoru.  She only took his hands from her waist.  Setsuna stood there stunned as Usagi walked away. . . away from Mamoru. . . away from Mamoru!

"Ōji-sama," Setsuna whispered.

She didn't have to see his face, his eyes to know that his soul was shattered into a million pieces.  She knew he was heartbroken, just as heartbroken the first Usagi had been that time when Mamoru had been pushing her away.  He had done that back then to protect her.

Setsuna's wise face wrinkled into deep thought.  Could the princess be doing this to protect the prince somehow?  But protect him from what?

Setsuna couldn't think of any dangers that the princess might know but somehow all of them, the senshis and the prince, don't.

Maybe the prince don't approve, but maybe I should really go to the time gate to get all of these straightened out-

Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted as she saw Kakyuu began running.

Running after Usagi.

She must be here.  She couldn't have run too far.

Keiko had been running a few blocks already when she passed by the park.  Without another thought, he got inside.  Moments later, he saw Usagi rocking gently back and forth on a swing and was crying softly.

Although unsure of what to say to her exactly, Keiko began to walk towards her.

But Usagi opened her mouth before she could say a word.

"It was here on this very park where so many wonderful memories were created.  Too many fights took place here.  So on this very park was where the world witnessed a dashing super hero took the heart of little heroine.  In this very park where Mamo-chan and I used to go on Sundays.  On those benches," she said, pointing towards the far end of the park, "we'd sit and talked for hours.  Actually I'd talked, he'd just listen to my endless ramblings.  It was here too where we'd take Chibi-Usa."  Usagi suddenly stopped rocking, her eyes became stark.  "Chibi-Usa, I haven't even given her so much thought. . . "

Usagi's sobbing became a bit more intense.  Keiko can feel her breaking apart completely.

"Usagi, I know you love Mamoru," Keiko said, tentatively.  She watched as Usagi closed her eyes.  "You know you love Mamoru."

"Watashi. . . "

"But Mamoru, he's not too sure. . . why don't you just tell him the truth?  Everybody else knows it anyway. . . maybe even Seiya knows."

Suddenly, Usagi opened her eyes and looked around the park as if trying to recollect some lost and forgotten memory.

"On this very park too was where I met Seiya for our date," Usagi began.  "Luna had repeatedly told me not to go out with him, but I told her, as I've told all the others that it was nothing.  It wasn't a date at all.  It wasn't.  It wasn't because why would I want to go out with anyone even if he was a popular idol when I already have Mamo-chan?  Mamo-chan whom I loved very much.  And yet, I continued to hang out with Seiya.  Even after you appeared then, I wanted to see him.  Haruka, I really annoyed her because of that.  She even had to say to me that I like Mamoru.  The way she said it, she wasn't really reminding me, more than she was telling me that I couldn't possibly like Seiya."

"But I did liked Seiya," Usagi finally said after a long pause.    "I like everybody, I told her.  Yes.  I liked everybody including Seiya, but not in the way I like Mamo-chan of course, but I did liked him."

Usagi smiled sadly.  "Now I think I might have been wrong.  Maybe I did like Seiya more than I thought.  Because if it wasn't Mamoru's doing, then it's probably mine.  Maybe I did like Seiya and betrayed Mamo-chan and now, it's affecting our destiny.  It's my fault. . . my fault."
      "It's not your fault, Usagi," Keiko reassured her.  "As you've said you loved Mamoru-san, you couldn't have betrayed him.  It wasn't your fault."

"Then whose is it?  I'm sure that something happened in the past that had affected the present this way.  I had always been meant to find Mamoru again but I didn't have to since Seiya was already there.  We grew up living next to each other.  Something must have put it that way."

Keiko remained silent.  Usagi was right.  Something did happened in the past that must have caused all of these. . . now if only any one of them could remember what it was.

"What about you?"  Usagi asked, interrupting Keiko's thoughts.  "Are you mad at me?  After all, because of me, your destiny is in jeopardy too."

"Usagi, please.  Stop saying it's your fault.  It's not," Keiko insisted.

"Then who else can it be?"

I really wish I know, Keiko thought.  For all I know, it could be my fault for escaping into this planet.  If I never did, my Star Lights would never have followed me and then-

Suddenly a new thought came to her.  Usagi had looked up too, Keiko realized that Usagi had the same thought just as she had.

Seiya.

AN:  soooo how was it min'na?  Personally I think it's a lame chap(my best friend complains it's just another chap to put more pain upon mamochan), hehe but how else could I insert Pluto in the story?  So please do review and humor me.

Ōji-sama -      an address for a prince

Ōho-sama -  an address for a princess

I'm really sorry for not updating sooner, min'na. Aside from doing nothing but go crazy about ranma, school was killing me with all the work.  And I was nursing a broken heart, would you believe I forgot one very important detail about SM?  That Usachan had once slapped mamochan? I was very shocked when I read that in a forum because I can't recall it at all!  I had spent like two hours wracking my brains to remember when that happened.  I know I was being silly but. . . *shrugs*

Oh about setsuna's err *thoughts* on mamochan, I hope you don't mind min'na. You can look at it the way you want, if you don't like Pluto having those err *thoughts* then think of it that she's just being very loyal as a senshi and looks up very highly at her prince. But personally, if we base it in the manga, people will claim setsuna has other thoughts on mamo. I don't really blame her though, I mean if I were the guardian of time with nothing to do but watch people milling around, my eyes would surely notice a certain earth prince and definitely grow fond of him even from afar. In the anime, there was never a hint of this kind of thing on setsuna though.

Anyways, I should stop my ramblings now. Well watch out for the next chap which I'll try to update between my birthday and valentines, min'na for finally the long awaited truths will be revealed. . . so watch out for chapter 15, Silent Souls.  Love you all, min'na. Ja!