Chapter 5:

Usagi and Mamoru had been walking for about fifteen minutes, and for the last five minutes, Usagi had been completely lost. She knew they had not left Juuban, because there had been no signs indicating that they were elsewhere, but this was definitely an area of Juuban she was not familiar with.

This area was filled with large apartment blocks, all very modern and kind of rich looking; Usagi was confused, why was Mamoru bringing her here?

Her attention then focused upon Mamoru, he was walking slightly in front of her, hand still holding hers; almost pulling her along.

"Mamoru? Are we almost there?" Usagi queried, wondering how much longer they were to walk in unfamiliar territory.

"Almost," was his only reply, as he pulled her around another corner.

There, right in front of them, surrounded by city apartment buildings, was a small park, filled completely with every imaginable type of rose.

Usagi was awestruck, "What is this place?" she asked, moving to admire the roses, each more beautiful than even the one she had seen in Juuban Park.

"This," Mamoru said, "Is my garden."

Usagi turned, looking back to where she had left Mamoru standing on the sidewalk. She was stunned – "This is all your work?"

He simply nodded, the look on his face tender as he looked over his handiwork. Mamoru walked towards her, taking her hand again, and led her further into the paradise. He brought her to a small statue and bench, sitting in front of the artwork.

Usagi gasped, it was a sculpture of one of her favourite paintings, by Lonnie Lonai, depicting Serenity and Endymion.

Mamoru had to smile at that look on her face, the one of absolute wonder – "I know; its one of my favourites too."

Usagi sat heavily on the bench, her blue eyes wandering all over the statue, drinking in the image of Serenity and Endymion in each others arms.

"Its my favourite fairytale," Usagi said, reaching out a hand to touch the figures, "I always hoped for something like they had."

Mamoru nodded, "It's just such a captivating story; when I was younger, I used to pretend I was Endymion, made my parents buy me a sword and everything."

Usagi glaced at Mamoru, just in time to see a bitter look pass his face.

"Mamoru?"

"It's nothing." He replied, his face closing off.

But Usagi would have none of that.

"It's obviously not nothing, if it hurts you in such a way," She said passionately, reaching out her hand to touch his, "Please, tell me?"

Mamoru looked away, trying to gather his thoughs, how on earth had it got to this? He took a deep breath, "My parents…. They died not long after that, in a car accident. I was the only survivour."

Usagi's blue eyes grew wide, she had never imagined such a fate for him; "How old were you?" she asked, trying to draw his face and eyes to look at her.

He didn't take the bait, still looking away, he replied, "I was five. No living relatives either. They had to send me to an orphanage."

Usagi stood, walking over to where Mamoru was, and wrapped her arms around him from behind, trying to convey some sort of understanding and sadness. Suddenly, it didn't matter whether he was in love with her or not, whether she had pretended to be someone she wasn't; all that mattered, was this.

Mamoru turned, and looked down at Usagi, wondering what was going on here, how things had turned out the way he wanted. He put his arms around her, holding her tight, hoping to the gods that she didn't have a problem with this.

They stood there for a minute, Mamoru gaining comfort from their embrace; then, in an instant, he did something.

He leant down, and kissed her.