Finally Able to Walk Away From You

4

Usagi glanced at her four friends. They were all waiting at the Hino temple, ready and waiting for Duo. The four (even Ami) were giggling, laughing and pushing each other. Somehow, Usagi felt apart from them. Sure she was standing next to them, but she was off in some other world. Oddly, Usagi felt nervous. And vaguely possessive, of all things! She shook her head.

'Why would I be possessive? He's not even mine!' Her thoughts exclaimed. 'Because you want him to be...' Her mind decided to clear up. Usagi then glanced over at her friends and suddenly felt incredibly inadequate compared to them. Rei's exquisite beauty, Minako's optimism and happiness, Makoto's talents, and Ami's intelligence... were all far more impressive than anything Usagi could pull off. As she lost herself deep in her self, arms came up and wrapped around Usagi, startling her. She gave a cry out, catching the attention of the others.

Duo laughed and then spun her around. "Hey Usako, miss me?" he said, his voice and eyes so full of laughter. Usagi blushed and stepped out of his grasp.

'Unbelievably...' She thought. "Duo," she started (changing the subject), "these are my friends—Ami, Rei, Makoto and Minako." Duo's violet eyes sharply scanned he girls over as they sashayed over to him. He then smiled lightly and gave a low hello. To Usagi, it seemed almost disinterested. Scrunching up her nose for a second, Usagi began to scold herself.

'Are you kidding yourself? Disinterest? How could he be disinterested in them?' Shaking her head, Usagi inhaled deeply and put on her best smile. "Well, are we going?"

Usagi's tried to hold back her depression as Duo walked her home, Usagi being the last of her friends to go home. Duo claimed it was because it was the most logical path. The night had gone well, everyone got along and there was a lot of conversation, but Usagi kept getting this odd feeling—that she wanted Duo to pay attention to her; ONLY her. She knew it was selfish and childish, but Usagi didn't want to share her Duo.

"So, what do you think of them?" Usagi said, breaking the silence. He glanced at her, a suspicious look in his eye.

"Well, Ami is amazingly intelligent, Rei is dazzling, Makoto is great to be around, Minako is bubbly and cute—hey, why do you look so sad?" Duo said, suddenly stopping. Usagi just looked confused.

"I'm not sad—' She began. Duo stopped her, gazing right into her eyes.

"Don't lie to me." He said very firmly. Usagi's eyes darted away from him and held strongly on the ground. A half smile then rose on Duo's lips.

"Don't tell me you feel ... jealous, do you?" Usagi sharply met his eyes with righteous indignation. But the smile on his face stopped her dead in her thoughts. He was too gorgeous with the full moon behind him. He stepped back and inhaled deeply, gathering his thoughts. When he looked back at her, there was such a life and light dancing in his eyes Usagi held her breath for his words.

"Usagi, for all that they have, that's all they have." He let Usagi ponder these words for a few seconds, then continued. "Usagi, how ever beautiful, intelligent, or nice they are, I'm not attracted to them. They lack, well, everything you have." Silence passed and Usagi blushed deeply.

"I..." She could only stammer out. Duo smiled lightly at her.

"Good night Usako." Duo then leaned forward, and his lips gently brushed against Usagi's. Then in a heartbeat Duo was gone, leaving Usagi outside her doorstep.

Duo sighed as she slumped his tired body into his apartment. Hilde came to the door and let him in, a very tense look on her face. Duo winced, knowing very well what she had to say.

"Duo, we got another call. Have you whacked your target yet? The director is getting really impatient, and he said that if you didn't—

Duo threw his hands up, very agitated. "Hilde, back off! She isn't so easy to find you know. I haven't seen you try to kill her recently."

"Duo, you very well know this is YOUR assignment, not mine. I have my own affairs to take care of."

Duo scowled. "Yeah, you sure do have your own affairs." He then moved to the kitchen, regretting his words immediately. Hilde rounded on him and blocked his path to the refrigerator.

"I have affairs? Are you accusing me of cheating? Pardon me, but you're the one running around having "affairs". She's what, sixteen? What could you want from that dumb blonde?" Hilde shouted. Duo's eyes flashed.

"So you've been stalking me?"

"Don't change the subject! Why her? Why would you want someone younger? Why don't you want someone older, what's wrong with me?"

Duo fell silent. How could he tell her that it had only been about sex in the beginning? How could he tell her that she guilted him into what ever soup of a relationship she thought they were in. His eyes suddenly became very tired. "Hilde, don't. Just... let me sleep. I'll kill my target tomorrow, and we'll go to dinner and— hey!"

Hilde turned around and stormed into the bedroom and slamming Duo's pillow into his stomach. He got the message. "couch tonight!". He heard the door slam behind her, signaling the end of the "discussion" for the night.

"Usagi, you seem giddy today, what's up?" Rei asked as they five girls lay spread out in study session formation. Usagi shrugged, but her smile didn't change in the least. The other three were now staring at her.

"Yeah Rei-chan, she does look much happier..." Minako said in close analyzing. Makoto poked Usagi in the side.

"Yeah, can't you tell us?"

"Ummmm... Mamoru called me! We fell out of touch for a little bit..." Usagi said, almost wincing that she felt the need to lie to her friends. They accepted it and went back to studying. Occasionally they would look up and steal glances at her. Usagi shook her head, silently laughing at them. And for a second, everything was perfect. Usagi had her deep smile worthy secret; she had her friends, her family. It was all good.

Until a scream shattered the calm sky. The five girls groaned, heaving their bodies up and running. They followed the scream to Crown Arcade where Chibi Usa was being held hostage. When they reached their destination the five had transformed and didn't waste a second on speeches. Not when the cute little pink haired demon's life was at stake.

Within seconds the youma's tentacles had ensnared all of them, usurping their energy. Usagi kept holding out for Mamoru, for that flying rose, but it didn't come. Instead she heard a gun blast and the youma fell back. Usagi and her comrades were released. Usagi wandered over to the dead youma body, going in for the dispatch, but halted when she saw the gun wound in the youma's head. A perfect shot. She quickly glanced around, but there was nothing. Usagi dispatched the youma and left the site with her comrade senshi. After returning to their normal selves, Usagi fell quiet as the other four girls discussed this new action.

"Can you believe it? Some one used a gun on the youma!"

"We should have thought of that hahaha!"

"Let's celebrate over ice cream!"

"Hey Usagi, why didn't "tuxedo mask" show up? Usagi?"

Usagi's head snapped up at Makoto's question. She shrugged, not seeing the relevance of Mamoru. Until Usagi remembered that she had never quite told them about their break up. Oops. "Dunno, that is weird. Well, I have to go! Mum wants me home!" Usagi called quickly as she ran the opposite direction, headed home.

As she sat at the dinner table her mind kept reeling to the gun shot. Who would? Who knew? Why? Her mother glanced at her, then at Usagi's father.

"Dear, why don't you ask your daughter about her day?" Her mother asked sweetly yet firmly. He grunted in response. Usagi's brother Sammy and Chibi Usa winced, but kept silence. This was normal. Usagi's head fell, equally as unsurprised as the others. Her father stopped acknowledging her existence when she didn't get into a better high school. When she failed all her exams. She was a failure in all the areas that mattered to him. The only areas. If it weren't for her mother, Usagi would have gone off the deep end. All of them would. Usagi's father treated Chibi Usa and Sammy the very same way, blaming Mrs. Tsukino for raising them poorly. But it really didn't hurt anymore.

Mrs. Tsukino changed the subject. "Oh, did anyone hear about the gun shot in town today? No one was hurt, no shops were broken into, no windows, cars, or anything damaged. The weirdest thing..."

Duo ran as fast as his legs go take him. Things had gone horribly wrong. Soon he realized he was well away from the vicinity of the commotion. His target was not her! How could it be her! 'How could Usagi Tsukino be Sailor Moon!' His mind screamed angrily. She had been clear as day, no mistaking her. And there as no way in hell that he would kill Usagi. This was bad. Rule number one, never abandon your mission. Rule Number two, no betrayal. Treachery was unforgivable. Number three, don't get attached. And as of now, he had broken all three. Hilde would not forgive him.

'Not that she matters now... I have my own life to worry about. Distance. Yes, I must put as much distance between myself and the Director as possible.' He winced. This couldn't have gotten any worse. 'Or can it?' He thought grimly.

By the time Duo had formulated his plan, nighttime had fallen already.

Usagi sat on her bed, pajamas on and her hair down. She couldn't get it out of her head. 'A gunshot? Why?' Soon a quiet rapping on her window pane roused her from her reverie. She wandered over to it and pulled it open. Down below, Mamoru stood with his hand full of pebbles. With his free hand Mamoru motioned her to come down. Usagi shook her head no, but he mouth "jump, I'll catch you". Glancing around, Usagi sighed. Mamoru had all but dropped out of her life and mind. Her world was now centered around Duo, who had not been at their normal rendezvous that night. She inhaled and let her body fall forward. As promised, Mamoru caught her. Setting her back down Usagi took three steps back from him.

"What do you want?" She harshly whispered. She found that she was actually very angry with him.

"Usagi, stay away from Duo. He's deadly. Here" Mamoru then stooped low to the ground, picked up a thin manila folder and handed it to her. Skeptically eyeing him, Usagi took a step back and opened it. Flipping through the papers, Usagi suddenly dropped then to he ground. She looked back up to Mamoru.

"You serious about this?" He nodded. Usagi then burst out laughing, then quickly stifled her laughter to avoid waking anyone up. It was only four am after all. She picked up on of the pictures and held it out. It was of Duo in a mug shot.

"You expect me to believe this? Why are you even here?" she asked, finding that anger again.

"Usa, I just want you to be careful. And... I want you back..."

Usagi scowled deeply. "No. I don't believe you. About any of this. Especially the part about Duo being some serial murderer. And no. No. Mamoru, you broke up with me, no explanation, and now you think I'll just come back? As if." She said shaking her head. Mamoru looked appalled and speechless. Taking advantage of his shock, Usagi scrambled back up the drain pipe into her room, shutting her window with conviction. As Usagi lay back down on her bed, she felt oddly satisfied. There was only one man in her life now, and there was no point in denying it.

A.N: Alright folks, that's all you get now. I know, this chapter wasn't so good, but I'm trying to pick up the pace. Tell me if this chapter was less that par. Yeah, this chapter had to suck. But next chapter, I'll have much more room for description, for emotions, for ... goodness. Please review, tell me how you feel. How was your day? Review bitte!

Ps. Sorry it took so bloody long, but I have recently befallen tragedy. So, deal with!