Disclaimer for this story: the chapter titles are titles of songs from Rob Thomas' CD … Something to Be. (The story title itself is mine.)

Three Parts of Love
Written By: Jill Annette

PART TWO
Lonely No More

How could she have let this happen? How could she have been so stupid? She loved the man and she knew that she would never find another person like him. She would never love anyone the way she loved Mamoru, her Mamo-chan. Usagi wanted to hit herself for she had insinuated the whole thing.

There was no telling how the night would have gone and she ruined it. She had to open her big mouth and ruin everything. Tell him how badly he treated her when in reality, thinking back on it, she seemed to just be a spoiled brat. She always needed attention. Besides, who was to say that what she made of the entire situation was true? Sometimes she could let her imagination run wild and why did she have to jump to those stupid conclusions anyway.

Deep down she knew Mamoru loved her as much as she loved him. He just had trouble showing his affections at times. Losing his parents at such a young age and growing up in an orphanage and a few foster homes without real parental guidance and love did not help him learn the ability to show his emotions.

Usagi shook her head. No, she did the right thing, no one in her right mind would think that the way Mamoru had been treating her lately was good or anything near boyfriend-like—no matter what his past might have been like. She tightened her beige jacket around her and tucked her hands underneath her arms. The chill in the air bit her nose. Walking down the sidewalk this late at night was smart—in a sarcastic sense. The subway was another block away and the crisp air stung her lungs.

Her thoughts went back to the day she thought started the downfall: their fourth anniversary. They met when she was twenty-two and just starting her performing career and he twenty-seven just finishing medical school. It was almost love at first site. They had a definite attraction as they caught each other's eyes in the second floor of the Crown arced. Usagi purposefully left her gloves on the counter in hopes that the handsome man would notice. He did, catching up with her right outside the doors in the chill autumn air where she nonchalantly waited for him. Later, after they had been dating for a while, Usagi told him how she did it on purpose just to make up a reason to talk to him. Mamoru had smiled at her, kissed her nose and said, "I know."

At twenty-six Usagi believed that Mamoru would be the one to be there for her the rest of her life. Slowly she began to realize that maybe she was wrong. He forgot their anniversary, he almost always left her in the middle of the night, he did not call her Usa-ko anymore and he just seemed so distant. He would never call whenever he promised he would and then would very seldom answer the phone whenever she had a chance to call him. It all seemed crazy and she had to keep reminding herself that she did hold on for longer than necessary.

Usagi's footsteps echoed down the stairwell to the subway train below. There seemed to be no one around tonight. A few people scattered around, of course, but insanely empty for a Friday night. With her ticket stamped, the blond walked through the toll to the main waiting area. She took a seat on an empty bench.

Most girls would have left when he didn't show up at the café, Usagi told herself. I mean I forgave him for it. I didn't nag about it or bring him down or torture him for months on end because of him forgetting. I just let him go about his own business and I forgave him. He remembered on his own time and sure, the make-up-for-it sex was great. Not to mention the beautiful silver necklace with a diamond pendant.

A smile played on Usagi's lips as she tilted her head and started picking at the invisible lint in her lap. She glanced around the platform watching other people walk by.

Who knows what his life is like? He could have a million and one things on his mind. I can't be number one all the time. Even if he is number one in my life. He is a surgeon after all and I'm just a lousy dancer.

She rolled her shoulders forward and back and 'humphed' aloud. They were complete opposites of course it could not work. She kicked at the ground a couple times as if she were a kid, an adorable pout formed on her face.

This sucks.

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Her muscles stretched with her movements across the dance floor. She was fluid and limber and graceful on the stage. Each movement precise and strong that seemed as simple to her as shaking hands but each movement was a slight strain, he knew, on her body. Usagi made every single movement look simple like a true dancer's technique should despite the difficulty. Mamoru sat in the back of the scarcely populated auditorium for open dress rehearsal. It had been a few weeks since the gorgeous blond onstage had left him. He could not get over even for a second. She was the greatest thing in his life and now she was disappearing from it.

Mamoru could not help himself whenever he noticed one of the ads for the independent company Usagi danced for having a dress rehearsal open for the public. He would not pass up the chance to see the love of his life again, even if it was from a distance. He missed everything about her.

He missed her smile, her voice and her touch. He missed her body and the way she moved and as he sat in the back, out of view from the stage, he could almost remember everything. He could recall the day they met, a teasing smile on her lips. How she felt beneath him the first time they were together, the last. He could taste her and smell her. What did I do to mess it up? Everything was going okay. Great, he thought. Apparently everything was not great or even okay.

He fingered the object in his pocket. A square, velvet box was soft in his palm. She needed to know how he felt and what he had planned. It was only fair. If he didn't at least try it would be the end of both of them and they would both be giving up something he felt they really did not want to.

He stood up and walked to the side aisle and slowly walked to the side door as to not make any commotion that would bring any kind of attention his way. Mamoru was good at walking around unnoticed whenever he wanted to. He was the kind of person who was slick on his feet and could easily blend into the shadows; call it a hidden talent if you must.

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Usagi smiled, it always felt great to finish the last set in a performance knowing that everything went well and the crowd, no matter how small it was, enjoyed it. In the chorus line, she bowed with her fellow dancers and friends to the few people who came to the last rehearsal. This was her favorite night to perform because it was okay to mess up while you were dressed the part.

She walked backstage and into the dressing room. Usagi grabbed a towel and blotted her face and neck.

"Hey girl, great job!" Minako, another, much bubblier blond, commended as she patted Usagi on the shoulder.

"Thanks, you too."

"Think we'll do well tomorrow?" Naru, a beautiful red head, asked.

"Of course, we got it down," Minako stated matter-of-factly. "Then again, Usa best cheer up or we might have to replace her."

"Yeah, you're right." Naru agreed, "She's been Miss Glum for the past month or so."

"Worse these last couple days."

"No," Usagi shrugged, her voice coated with sarcasm. "Not here. Maybe it's just that I can't hear. I don't know, but you guys can go on and talk about me as if either statement were true."

The girls laughed. They had no clue what was going on in Usagi's life. She had not told them about her and Mamoru's break up. For all they know he was just being Mamoru and getting her down. They quit asking about her relationship problems a couple months ago, so it was easy for Usagi to bluff the relationship part of her life.

Usagi opened her locker to retrieve her things when she noticed something peculiar sitting on top of everything. A black box sat above an envelope with her name printed on the front. She sat on the bench in the center of the rows of lockers, tearing open the lip of the envelope and taking out the pages inside. Her eyes trailed over the handwriting, Mamoru's handwriting.

Usa-ko,

It seems to me that you think you know what to say, when to say it and how. I want you to know something about me. About what I've gone through and what I've dealt with. Open the box, if you haven't already. That is what was on my table in the kitchen just waiting for you to sit down and notice it. I was going to ask you to marry me because you are the best thing to ever happen to me.

Usa, your heart wasn't the only one that broke whenever you walked out on me. I may have hurt you and I may have cut your precious heart into pieces but let me mend them. If you would just tell me how you feel instead of just always telling me 'It's okay,' I could work at us. We could be better. I could be better. I could be what you want me to be. I want you to know that I'd give up everything to stand beside you. I love you. Why can't we just try? Show me how you feel.

You know where I'll be waiting for you. I'll be waiting for you. Come find me and bring your answer with you.

Love,
Mamoru

Usagi folded the letter and placed it back in the envelope as her hands shook. She opened the black box to reveal the diamond ring, tears at the ready. When she looked up, Minako and Naru were hovering over her with their mouths agape.

"You had a fight?" Naru asked.

"You broke up with him?" Minako looked stunned.

"You were reading my letter over my shoulder?" Usagi tilted her head.

Minako shrugged while Naru scratched the back of her head, sheepish smiles forming on both of their faces.

Usagi looked back down, took the ring out of the box and held it in her palm.

"So what do you say?" Naru asked.

"I don't know what to say," Usagi said.

The blond placed the ring on her left ring finger to test it out. It was a perfect fit. She smiled at the look of it shining on her finger. Standing up, Usagi threw the letter and the empty box in her duffel bag and placed the strap of it on her shoulder. She turned towards the two girls and gleamed.

"I have to go to the Crown Arcade."

With that, Usagi turned on her heel, still dressed in her dance suit underneath her beige jacket, and strolled out the door the entire time staring at the gleaming jewel.