A/n: I just KNEW I was gonna get stuck with this part -- damn you Meg! Lol. I'm just kidding...emotional moment -- I shall try my best!
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Warm breath tickled her cheeks, but Usagi took no notice of it and was about to slip back into dreams when she heard her own name. A small, lady-like yawn left her lips and she rolled over beneath the comforting weight of Haruka's arm. Her eyes were instinctively drawn to the mirror of her vanity. There she saw Yaten...in all her pain-filled beauty. Shocked azure eyes met emerald through the mirror's reflection.
"Yaten!" Usagi breathed.
She stood and turned around in one fluid motion but Yaten was already backing away down the hallway. Usagi's bed-clothes were rumpled, her hair was in disarray, and she knew she must look an awful mess, but she couldn't seem to make herself care when all she could see was the hurt clinging in a gray-blue aura around the starlight. Guilt and self-inflicted pain raked her heart as she tore her insides to ribbons knowing that she had caused this emotional downfall.
"We need to talk--"
But Yaten wouldn't let her finish and whirled away sprinting down the stairs -- her only thought was to get away. Ever impulsive and selfless Usagi gave no regard to herself before vaulting over the bed after her. She had to make things right.
As Usagi scrambled over her sleeping body Haruka was awoken. Yawning sleepily she paid it no mind until the imperative thundering of footsteps on the stairs alerted her that all was not right. Sitting up quickly she looked around to find herself alone.
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Comforting sunlight beat down on the trio as they took their lunch hour at one of the tables outside a nearby coffee shop. Minako sipped idly at her drink and glanced over at her two companions, "Did either of you see Usagi in class this morning?"
Both Ami and Makoto shook their heads. "She must have slept in." Makoto reasoned before allowing herself a big bite of the danish resting on her plate.
"It's not like her to miss lunch, though." Ami said sounding genuinely concerned.
Minako looked neither smug nor cheerful. For once, her expression was impassive and empty. "It's obvious she's chosen then."
Makoto positively choked on her pastry and Ami showed similar signs of shock.
"I could sense it late last night...it kept me up the better part of the evening." Minako told them quietly. Her eyes turned down to her coffee. She cupped it in both hands as if it was precious and fragile.
Ami watched the blonde with calculating eyes. She felt bad for her friend -- she truly loved Usagi with every part of her being. Now she was taking a moment to mourn the loss of what may have possibly been perfect happiness in her eyes. Minako knew that Usagi had finally achieved her own perfect happiness, but to have felt what Usagi had been feeling! Empathy for the torture Venus had gone through welled up in her throat and she softly touched her friend's hand in wordless comfort.
Makoto watched the scene in confusion, but remained silent in respect of the understanding passed between the two girls. Minako finally looked up and to all appearances seemed as sunny and enigmatic as ever. Makoto deemed this a well enough time to cut in.
"But Yaten was in my second period..."
Minako fixed her with an amused look. Mako's mouth slowly formed an '0' shape.
"She chose Haruka..." Makoto said slowly. Minako nodded along with her.
"Haruka spent the night." Ami volunteered. Again Minako nodded affirmation.
"And Yaten went over to Usagi's right before lunch." Minako supplied looking at the two expectantly.
Ami bit her lip and fixed her eyes on Minako. Makoto was the one the put to words what was in both their minds.
"This isn't gonna end well for Yaten, is it?"
Minako slowly shook her head.
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Rei sat nervously in the middle of the quad. Waiting.
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The three senshi gathered at the Coffee Hut were dumbfounded as they looked up at the precise moment a blur of silver, faintly recognizable as Yaten, whizzed by their table. They continued to look off down the street even after Yaten had disappeared from their sight.
"Was that...Yaten?" Ami asked without turning.
"Yup."
"I wonder where was she running in such a hurry..." Ami went on.
"Don't know."
"Lunch isn't over for another forty minutes." Ami found this lack of recent information on her part rather annoying.
"Uh huh."
Frustrated with Minako's monosyllabic answers she finally turned around to glare at the blonde, and, consequently, missed the entrance of their next surprise for the day. Usagi skidded to a halt in front of them wearing nothing but an oversized dress shirt which, thankfully, came down to her knees. Her unbound hair hung down to her ankles and blew around her face at each tiny gust of wind.
"USA!" Minako exploded prompting Ami to whirl back around. "You can't run around like that!"
She was right. Every person within seeing distance was staring at the seemingly crazy young girl running about Tokyo half-naked. Usagi shook her head and waved her hand -- easily dismissing her senshi's comment. One clasped hand was held to her breast and she took a small step towards them.
"Did Yaten pass by here?" She asked breathlessly.
They stared at her dumbly.
"GUYS!"
Makoto gradually pointed down the street, "I think she was heading for the quad..."
Usagi was already sprinting down the street before the brunette had completed her sentence.
"What was that about?" Makoto exclaimed.
Minako shook her head; "I have no idea."
They went back to their lunches, each secretly wondering about the actions of their friends, and fell back into the comfort of their routine. Everyone else around them settled back into their rut as well.
"Have you guys seen Usagi?"
Minako dropped her coffee. They all turned their heads to see Haruka looking at them expectantly. She was puffing slightly and out of breath but that seemed to be all that was out of place. Haruka had more sense than their well intentioned, but impulsive, princess and had taken the time to dress herself properly before joining the chase.
"What is going on, Haruka?!" Makoto finally exploded.
Haruka's brow furrowed and she seemed to draw a bit more inside herself. "Your guess is as good as mine." She shrugged, "I'm hoping I'll find the answer at the end of this crazy run."
Ami pointed the way this time. "She went towards the quad--" Her sentence cut off abruptly. She didn't think Haruka needed to know exactly why Usagi was running there. Knowing that their princess was running after Yaten probably wouldn't bring out the best in the older woman -- and Ami had Usagi's best interests in mind.
"Thanks." Haruka turned her head slightly and nodded specifically at Minako. She hesitated slightly and then nodded back.
Haruka pulled her hands from the pockets of her khaki's and started off in the direction of the quad. Minako stared at the coffee spreading across the flagstones. Then, as if making up her mind she stood up and shouted after the retreating senshi, "She was chasing Yaten!"
Haruka called back her thanks and picked up her pace. Minako sighed determinedly then sat back down.
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A/N 2: GO HARASS MEG! Hopefully she'll take ages and I can have more time to work on An Inevitable Fate and my new story insert story plug here, lol -- Crystalline Revelations Part I: The Corruption of Galaxia