---Chapter 1---

Chiba Mamoru, unaware of all that transpired today with his name being the main topic, entered the Crown. A notorious bar and grill that had expanded from the one stifling name of 'Crown Arcade', now it still owned some of the less hassling machines and a jute box for those still oriented to spend money on music. It was just that, a bar and grill, every once in awhile Motoki would surprise people by putting a milkshake or smoothie on the menu when he felt so inclined, recently in the last few weeks he had put it on there every day.

Which only meant one thing, Motoki was in love again.

A fact Mamoru was privileged to confirm as he entered the Crown today. Motoki was making out with his most recent girlfriend. Mamoru cleared his throat. "Good god Usagi, can't find anybody who doesn't know you to date you, so you though somebody you already met might have changed their mind? I guess old habits die hard."

Usagi groaned inwardly as she was still leaning across the counter, her lips still firmly attached to Motoki's, she nipped playfully at his before leaning back and turning around to face the boon of her life, Mamoru. "Actually Mamoru, Motoki's not an old habit, in fact the only old habit I do have is ending up with you every once in awhile, and somehow that isn't as pleasant as it should be, I guess I'm growing out of my old habits." She shot back, a challenge issuing in her eyes.

"Ouch." Mamoru put a hand to his heart. "Where'd you learn that? Motoki, what else have you been teaching Usa-chan here while I've been gone?" A hinting look being shot at his other best friend.

"Quite a lot actually." Motoki looked embarrassed for a moment before coming out and wrapping his arm firmly around Usagi's waist. "You may be my best friend but I know your relationship with my girlfriend, stay away." Motoki snapped. "If I have to regress back to elementary school terms, then listen up because I'll only state them once for you 'mine, keep off, no touchy, no takey.' You got me?"

"MOTOKI, WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM BACK HERE!!" The loud voice of one of his workers shouted through the swinging door.

Motoki reluctantly removed his arm from around Usagi's waist, still eyeing Mamoru cynically. "Usa, I'll be back shortly, all right? I've just got to deal with this problem, promise me you'll still be here when I get back?"

Usagi looked at her watch, then the Crown's extremely large clock hung. "If you get back within 15 minutes, I can keep that promise." Usagi shrugged, before giving him a peck on the lips. "You better go, the sooner you get back the better." Motoki nodded then disappeared behind the doors where the voice had come from.

"What's his problem?" Mamoru jerked his in the direction Motoki had just vanished to.

"He's just feeling a little insecure because I turned down his marriage proposal." Usagi shrugged looking quite relaxed as she sat in her boyfriend's place of work, telling her on again off again ex-boyfriend and best friend that she just turned down a major step in a relationship most girls pushed for.

"Why?" Mamoru grew concerned. "It's something you've wanted all your life, why turn it down now?"

"Because I'm not sure it came from the right place." Usagi glanced down at her watch again. "Motoki! 10 minutes!" She shouted, ignoring the incredible looks the customers were giving her turned back to the disbelieving Mamoru.

"The right place? Where'd you want it to come from? His butt?" He was giving her the 'I can't believe you' look.

Usagi rolled her eyes, a yawn escaped her and she blinked back the moisture that it left behind in her eyes before deciding on an answer to give Mamoru. "I want it to come from his heart." She finally stated truthfully.

"What inclination is there that Motoki would offer you marriage with anything other than his heart? I know Motoki, he's wanted this almost as long as you have, but it's never been the right timing for you two to get together."

"Well, it's kind of like, why now? Is it because I have a great look-"—You've always had a great look—"Not the point." She glared as she spoke the last words after being cut off. "I'm wondering if Motoki is being superficial and I've never noticed it before or if I'm being silly, but I don't really want to ask him this in light of my recent decline to take our relationship the next step further. If I had known before he asked that he was thinking about it, I would have asked then, but now I don't know when I can." She explained, her fears for the first time coming to light in the form of words, not just thoughts.

"There's one thing about Motoki, never doubt him or his feelings. He's honest and truthful. Just don't kid yourself with him." Mamoru paused before taking the seat right next to her at the bar. "You can kid yourself with every other guy, in fact I prefer it, but it's just not something that you can accuse Motoki of." He took her hand in his. "I'm breaking one of Motoki's rules." Mamoru stated wryly, used to taking such liberties without conscious thought.

"Yeah but if he knew you were trying to help his case I think he would forgive you." Usagi smiled at him and partially at herself.

"Anyways, back to the main topic. You've been waiting for his ring since you were naïve and 13, except when you were dating me that first time of course." He joked, missing her measuring look. "Be honest with yourself here as you are in every other aspect of your life."

"Thank you Mamoru, you've given me a lot to consider." She glanced bemusedly at the clock, 10 minutes had gone by, so it meant she only had another 3 minutes. "1 minute Toki!" She yelled, the only thing she manipulated was time, just to get people to get a jump on something and be faster than if she gave the full amount of time.

"Any time Usa-chan, you know you can always turn to me."

Usagi yawned. "Thank you Mamoru." She yawned again. "Oh, excuse me, but I just had a very late night followed by an even earlier morning, I'm afraid I'm more tired than I had though when I got here this afternoon."

"No apologizes necessary." He gave her shoulders a good rubbing but silently took his hands away as Motoki came back into the room.

"Sorry Usa, but the grate broke and we had to deal with a mini fire and the blender decided to burst, no more smoothies for awhile." Seeing Usagi's dejected frown, hurried to explain. "I have to go dig up one of the other 8 we packaged away while remodeling this place. It's buried underneath all my other lumber and architectural things."

"No worries, hero Mamoru is back in town and he's got the perfect remedy, Usa-chan can just stop by my home when ever she wants and chef Mamoru will mix her up the best smoothie she's ever had before." Mamoru saluted.

"I think Mamoru's got his jobs mixed up." Motoki stated conspiratorial to Usagi.

Usagi laughed. "I'm sorry Mamoru, but I happen to know what happens when you use a blender, it's like me trying to use one of Mako-chan's advanced culinary arts cook books that she's loaned to me so I could try and make spaghetti. No I think I'll just go to her restaurant, she gives them to me free, and I know they'll be good." Usagi winked at him before completely shutting him out by turning back to Motoki. "Toki-chan, I've gotta go." She pouted wrapping her arms around his neck.

"So soon Usa? But I thought that work didn't start for another 15 minutes." Motoki wrapped his arms around her waist bringing her closer so he could rest his forehead against hers and look into her blue eyes.

"Are you kidding me? I've got to try and get cigarette smoke out of my hair again before I go to work, and that always takes me such a long time. Some people don't like that smell, you know." She admonished.

"All right, but give me a call when you're done." Motoki brushed her nose with his.

"Will do, I can't bare the time we'll be spending apart." Her large blue eyes the color of the clearest lake looked into his sadly.

"Yes, well you know how you could make that easier on the two of us." He suggested but it was the wrong thing to say because suddenly Usagi became less tender.

"I know Toki, stop pressuring me, I need to think things through." She grumbled, gave his cheek a quick peck, but he wouldn't let her go with only that. He caught her face in his hand and pulled her face back to his and captured her lips. It was short, but better than the cheek. "I'll see you later Toki." She left, and gave Mamoru a half remembered wave.

Mamoru whistled after she left. "Some girl you got there Motoki." Mamoru teased, but the way that Motoki was glaring at him he knew it wasn't time to bring up what he and Usagi had talked about. So instead he gave into some light hearted jabbing.

"Yes, and that's exactly it isn't it Mamoru, she's mine." Motoki added not pleased at the turn about over the last few days, ending with his life long competition sitting there after the tender farewell with Usagi.

"You know she won't be yours for long buddy. That girl's so flighty, she couldn't pick a man and stay with him if her life counted on it." Mamoru shook his head; this was leading into unwanted territories. "So what have the Ordango and you been up to that I've already tempted."

"More intimacies than you've been granted I'm sure." Motoki grinned at the knowledge and wouldn't say a word on the subject any more.

"I'm sure, but you do know that she'll come back to me, she always does, it's just something we share, the inability to find true love." Mamoru couldn't have Motoki to have the last dig, he always had the last dig, and Mamoru wanted it for a change. Besides it was in a subject he knew all about.

"Well until that day occurs she's in my arms, not yours, so stay away from her. When will you stop chasing her?" Motoki snapped.

"When she gets married." Mamoru finished lightly before getting up to leave before he could follow it down that subject. "And by the way Motoki-kun, I don't chase her, and she doesn't chase me, we just always seem to find each other when we feel most alone." With that Mamoru walked out the Crown for the first time feeling like he shouldn't have gone so far with his old buddy.