Chapter 2: Why is HE so Important?

Anri and ChibiUsa arrived back home around midnight. Usagi and Mamo-chan had decided to go for a walk in the park, so the girls were alone.

"I'm going to bed," ChibiUsa said with a yawn. "You gonna' do the same?" Anri yawned as well, but shook her head.

"No, I promised Anakin I would go out with him when we got done. I'm gonna' call him."

"Momma won't let you go out this late," she said. "You'll get in trouble."

"I promised him," Anri said, pleadingly. "It's my last chance. If I cancel, he'll break up with me."

"Why do you care?"

"Because I really like him! And I'm sure he really likes me or else he wouldn't have stayed with me as long as he did!" She glared at ChibiUsa. "I haven't been able to get a good relationship while I've been a senshi!"

"It's not impossible, look at Usagi and I! We have boyfriends!"

"Usagi is dating the prince of Elysion, and you're dating a horse!" ChibiUsa glared at her, then turned and stormed up the stairs.

"Fine, I won't tell. But if she finds out, I'm not sticking up for you either!"

"Look, all I'm saying is, you guys have someone." ChibiUsa stopped walking. "I never had anyone like Mamo-chan or Helios. At least, not until I met Anakin. He makes me happy, that's all, and I don't want to lose him. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to keep him." ChibiUsa sighed, then continued up the stairs.

"Just so long as you know what you are getting yourself into."

2 hours later…

Mamo-chan and Usagi arrived home around two in the morning to a quiet house. Assuming the girls were asleep, they decided to go to bed without waking them. They were going to bed when they heard the front door open, and saw Anri walk in.

"And where have you been?" Mamo-chan asked.

"Um…." Anri started, "me?" Both parents looked at her accusingly and she smiled. "Oh, nowhere. You know, just went for a walk. Well, I'm pooped so I think I'll go to bed…" she tried to sneak up the stairs, but Mamo-chan stopped her.

"You went for a walk with whom?"

"Um, the people in my head. C'mon, who says I have to go for a walk with someone?"

"Anri," Usagi said, "is it Anakin? Is he making you sneak out at night?"

"What? No, I—"

"Look, I know you like this guy a lot. At your age, I was always after a cute guy. Heck, I married one!" Usagi smiled at Mamo-chan and then looked back at Anri. A worried look covered her face. "But none of those cute guys was worth risking my life for. I don't want you sneaking out at night for someone, just because he's cute… it could put you in a situation where—"

"It was MY idea, okay? Why do you always think that it's Anakin? Why do you think he is such a bad guy? Just cuz I would rather be with him than fighting monsters? Priority or not, I would rather be with him than be a Sailor Scout!"

"Anri!"

"No! I'm sick of always having to put my life on hold because some STUPID monster decided to attack the town! I'm sick of losing friends because I'm never at their parties or what not! And I am sick of blowing off Anakin! I'm sick of it!" She grabbed her broach and threw it at Usagi. "I quit! I'm through being a sailor scout!"

"Anri, being a sailor scout is your destiny!"

"No! Being a sailor scout is my choice, momma said so! I get to choose, and this is what I have chosen!"

"I will not have this in my house!"

"Then I won't be a part of 'this house'!" She turned away and stomped toward the door.

"Anri, think about this. Are you ready to throw all of this away?" Anri turned and looked at her with tears in her eyes.

"I've been ready for 11 years now. Ever since mom left, I've been ready. Being a Sailor Scout is the reason I lost mother… I'll be darned if I'll lose Anakin to it as well!"

"Anri, please wait!" ChibiUsa ran down the stairs. "Look, I know it must be hard. We don't understand, because our boyfriends know about us. But maybe we could talk this over, or you could tell Anakin that you're a—"

"A Sailor Scout? And have him call me a freak and run away? No! I'm not a sailor scout anymore, ChibiUsa, and that's final!" She turned away again and stepped out into the cold night air. A strong wind blew by and ruffled her hair. She shivered against the cold as it cut into her, and for the first time in a long time, she was scared. Things were going to be different now. "Thankyou, Usagi. You raised me well. I just know now that the path of a sailor scout is not the one meant for me. I apologize if this seems rude, or if I seem ungrateful for all you have done for me. That's not the case. I just know that it's time for me to make a different destiny." With that she slammed the door and walked away.

It wasn't long after Anri left the Chiba household that it began to rain. She brought her arms up around her as she walked, trying to keep from getting too cold, but it didn't work. Her hair was soaked within minutes, and she was becoming more and more depressed, which only made it feel colder. She began to cry, as well; a little at first, but then the tears came pouring down. The truth was, being a senshi was all she knew. She was scared of what it would be like if she never again had to run out of class or cancel dates, or even pretend to be sick from work. And she had no idea where she was going to stay. She had run out of Usagi's house in such a rage, she didn't think anything through. She ended up at the park she and ChibiUsa used to go to as kids and sat on a bench. She was shivering violently from the cold, but she didn't notice. She just sobbed uncontrollably. She jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder, and swung backwards in self-defense.

"Ow!" Anri turned around and smiled sheepishly.

"Anakin, sorry… don't sneak up on me like that!" Anakin sat down next to her and handed her the umbrella he was carrying.

"Guess I don't have to worry about you getting attacked… you're reflexes are amazing!"

"Thanx," she said as she wiped her eyes. "I've had some experience with defending myself."

"What are you crying for? I thought you had fun tonight…"

"I did. It's not that… I, well, I kinda' ran away from home." Anakin just stared at her for while. He tried to read her face, or at least her eyes.

"You never do anything without a reason… what happened? Did you and your mom get into a fight?"

"No, of course not!" Which wasn't really a lie; Anakin was talking about Usagi when he said mom, but Anri was talking about Mako-chan. Technically, she wasn't lying, because Mako-chan and her never, ever fought. "I would never fight with my mother! However, Usagi and I didn't see eye to eye on a couple of issues, and she half kicked me out, and I half ran."

"Let's see… they were home before you, and you don't see eye to eye on a couple of issues… sounds like she doesn't want you dating me."

"You are far to smart for your own good." She smiled at him, and he smiled back. "But it's not like she doesn't trust you, it's just… complicated." She folded her hands together and let them hang and looked up at the stars. The rain was making a soft "pitter-patter" sound, and the moon was casting down a beautiful light. It was very romantic. She scooted closer to Anakin (not too close, she was still soaking wet and didn't want to get him wet) and sighed. "I guess my biggest problem right now is… where am I going to stay?"

"I would offer to let you stay at my house but I'm against couples living together unless they are married… so, I could propose and in a couple of days you could stay at my place." Anri let out a laugh (the first pure one she had in a long time) and hit him in the shoulder.

"I wouldn't marry you if my life depended on it!"

"Seriously? Man," he said in a pouty, playful voice. "Why are we together then?" she laughed again and he smiled. "You know, we've never really been a couple."

"What are you talking about?" Anri cocked an eyebrow. "We've been dating for three weeks!"

"But the only real thing we've done that's even relatively different from being friends is kiss. Other than that, we're just best friends."

"I don't understand. Isn't that all we're allowed to do until we're married?"

"Well, that's not what I'm getting at." He shook his head. "I guess what I'm saying is… a relationship like ours, do you think it will go anywhere? Or are we just gonna be best friends for ever?"

"You're asking me if I would ever want to marry you?"

"If you would ever consider it, that's all."

"Anakin… what are you worried about?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I guess what I'm trying to say is, why are you out here this late? I have a reason, a good reason… but you just kinda showed up. Why?" Anakin just looked at her and smiled.

"You're avoiding my question. I'll answer yours when you answer mine."

"Alrighty then, let's think. Would I ever consider marrying you? Well, you're ugly, and you stink. You're hair looks really stupid when it's long, and your voice is annoying, not to mention I can't stand to be around you. I'd say, yeah, you've got a pretty good chance." She laughed and he tickled her. "Alright, fine. In all seriousness, yes, I would consider marrying you." He smiled at her.

"Now?"

"Now what?" she asked. He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer.

"Would you consider it now?" He kissed her passionately and she fell limply inot his arms.

"Marriage? Now? Well, if you promise to kiss me like that all the time, then yes."

"I'm serious," he started as he pulled something out of his pocket. "I came out here because I wanted to ask you this before you went to bed, so I went back by your house and your mom said that you had left and that it was all my fault. So I looked for you everywhere, and I tried to think, and I remembered that this was the first place we met, and you always told me that if I ever needed to find you, I could find you here. Well, I needed to find you, and you were right. I did find you here, I've always found you here. That's what makes us different from other best friends, Anri. You are always, always, always here when I need you. You know, you just know." He opened the small box he was holding and held it out to her. "Will you marry me?" Anri stared at him blankly, not sure she understood what was going on.

Everything is moving too fast! She shut her eyes to try and calm her mind. She was developing a really bad headache and wanted to cry. I just ran away from home, and now I am being asked to marry someone? It's too much, too fast! She knelt down on the ground next to him and gave him a hug.

"Please, don't take this personally. I like you a lot, and I think I might love you, but I'm not sure. I'm not sure I'm ready for a commitment of this caliber. Plus, I'm not completely sure you are."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but you're proposing to me now thinking that by the time I actually follow through with the wedding, we'll be old enough to drink, right?" Anakin looked hurt and upset, but he didn't object. "The fact is, I've never been here for you. I've always been canceling our dates or running away in the middle of parties or dinners. But," she said as she looked him in the eyes. "That won't happen anymore. I promise you, I will never cancel again, or run out in the middle of something. I'm going to be a good girlfriend, and we are going to be able to grow closer and, when we're ready, we will eventually get married. But not now, okay? I have a lot of stuff I need to deal with." He sighed.

"I didn't picture you rejecting me… it feels weird."

"I'm not rejecting you. Just think of it as, rescheduling." He smiled and kissed her again.

"Do you want money or something for a hotel room?"

"No," she said as she shook her head. "I should be able to stay with a friend."

"And you'll call me if you can't?"

"With what? My shoe? Should I just call you Charlie, or Mr. Bond?" Anakin smiled at her and handed her his cell.

"You can have this."

"Aww, how sweet. How much is your bill?"

"I'll pay it."

"No you won't!" The two proceeded to play rock, paper, scissors to see who would win the argument. "Dang," Anri shouted as she took the phone.

"You know I rock at that game."

"No, I know you read my mind!"

"I can't… never mind." They both stood up and he handed her the umbrella.

"I'm not taking your umbrella, too!"

"Yes you are. Look, just imagine that I offered to drive you to your friend's house, and you declined, so I said 'at least take my umbrella so you don't get any wetter than you already are.' That's what would have happened any way." He hugged her again, and kissed her forehead.

"Okay, fine."

"Please be careful. Call me whether you get a place or not. I want to know you are safe."

"Alright." She turned and started walking away, and heard him turn and get into his car. "Hey," she shouted before he could shut the door.

"What?"

"I love you, even if you are ugly and smelly." He laughed.

"And I love you, even if you're stupid."

I wish you were here, ChibiUsa. Then you could see. You could see why I care whether or not I lose him. You would understand why don't want to be a senshi anymore. But you aren't here, and I'm afraid you and I will never truly be friends again. A single tear trailed down her cheek and she wiped it away. I love him, and that's all I care about right now.