Going home
A few months have passed and it's time for Jessica to leave for Japan on another tour. She had been holding a competition for her students to go with her as an assistant. Many of her students had tried out and failed but Mamoru had not submitted a single entry. Although he had made peace with Usagi seeing Seiya, knowing and seeing were two different things. Besides, things between Emiko and himself had just started to kick off, and he really didn't want to ruin it by leaving her to go halfway across the world.
"Mamoru," Jessica sighed at him, "you really should try. Who are you to assume that you would get to go in the first place? Granted you are the best student in my Monday evening class, but I have 5 other classes you know. Don't be so cocky as to assume you will win."
"Well, truth be told, I've already decided which entry I want to submit. It's this one." He pointed out his latest piece. It was a painting of a couple overlooking a beautiful city. The gentleman was wearing a lavender suit and the woman was wearing an amethyst shaded gown to complement his. He had his arm around her waist and his other hand was resting on the head of a small pink haired child. In the center of the city was a castle that shimmered in the daylight. Even though it was a painting, his unique shading ability made the castle shadows seem to move as the light played across it. In faint relief on the castle was an image of what appeared to be an angel with long blond hair.
"Wow," Jessica breathed. "It's beautiful. When did you do this? I never saw it in our classes. If this is your entry, you are definitely coming with me. Your work will be displayed along with mine at this show. You have to bring this."
"Now do you understand why I haven't entered it yet? I know I will win, but I do not know if I can handle it."
"Well, you're gonna have to, this piece is going to Japan and you're coming with it. Pack your bags, we leave day after tomorrow."
Emiko looked over the dinner she had prepared for herself and Mamoru. She had prepared his favorite traditional Japanese dishes. Because Greg and Gaia had gone home to visit their families, she had brought out her table and pillows for a more comfortable and intimate dinner. She lit the candles and incense in anticipation of his return. She had already spoken to Jessica and knew that he was going to Japan. What he didn't know was that she had been extended the offer to join him, all expenses paid.
Her once dark, short hair had grown to gently brush her shoulders and was dyed a deep burgundy. She wore a silk top that resembled a kimono, and black silk pants to complete her ensemble.
Mamoru came into the dimly lit dorm and saw her sitting on the floor.
"I'm home. Wow…You look great."
"Thank you."
Mamoru's eyes roved over Emiko as he took in her Japanese gear and the meal she had laid out for him. I never thought I would stop hurting, but because of her my heart has healed.
"Emiko," he said after dinner, "I'm sorry, but I have to go to Japan with Jessica for her next show. She wouldn't let me not go. But I want to find a way to take you with me. I…I don't know if I can handle this alone."
"I'm already going," she replied, "Jessica called while you were on your way to let me know that she also wanted me to come along. She'll pay for everything. Besides, I couldn't possibly let you go through this alone. It would be too hard on you and just cruel of us to expect otherwise. Are you sure you are ok?"
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'll be fine. It's just gonna be hard. It's one thing to know that she is with someone else, but to actually see it, see her holding and loving and kissing someone other than myself. It…it …I don't know if I can do that."
"Well, you know what," Emiko said sliding over to his side, "you won't be alone. I'll be there to help you through this, and so will Jessica. It'll be ok, you'll see." She leaned over and kissed him lightly on the cheek. He felt her lashes on his face as she let the kiss linger a little longer than necessary. She rested her head on his shoulder and slowly drew circles on his back as they sat on the floor. Mamoru slid his left arm around her side and held her close.
"So…what are you gonna pack?"
Usagi, Minako, Rei, Makoto, and Ami sat in the lobby waiting for Mamoru's plane to land. Rather, the others are sitting; Usagi can seem to sit still. She's pacing up and down the halls, her heels clicking and echoing in the nearly empty airport.
"5 am is a ridiculous time to get in. What was he thinking that I wouldn't get in to see him? That he would be able to sneak back into Japan and go unnoticed? I don't think so…."
"Usagi-chan, sit down," the ever level headed one Ami said. "You're disturbing the other people."
Usagi looked around as if noticing for the first time that their little troupe of 5 wasn't the only group there. She flopped down in a chair and crossed her arms sulkily.
"I'm sorry guys; you know how I get when I'm sleepy."
"Yeah, I'm glad I'm the one who woke you this morning. Rei would have pounded you back," Makoto said rubbing a sore spot on her cheek.
FLIGHT 804 FROM AMERICA NOW LANDING PASSANGERS WILL BE EXITING VIA GATE 11 IN 10 MINUTES.
"Oh, thank Kami-sama. I don't think I could put up with another moment of this waiting," Rei breathed.
"I wonder what this girl he's bringing back is like. All he said was she was interesting," Minako said.
"Well she'd have to be to get Usagi off of his mind."
Usagi glared at Rei as the other girls tried and failed to stifle their giggles.
"What did I miss?" Mamoru asked from behind the girls.
"Mamo-chan!" The next few moments were lost in hugs and questions by many of the girls. Usagi hung back and let her friends fall all over her ex. It was weird to think of him that way. They had been together so long that seeing him now, knowing he was not hers, was more than a little awkward. She wasn't quite sure if she should hug him, or shake his hand or just say hello and leave.
"What's the matter Usagi; you can't even give me a hello hug after this long?" Mamoru swept her up in his arms and held her close. "I've missed you very much you know," he whispered into her hair. "I almost didn't come."
"I'm glad you did, but can you let me breathe?" He promptly dropped Usagi and held her at arms length looking her over. The past few months and a new love had been good to her. Her almost too skinny frame was more full and healthy shape. Her face glowed in a way it had not done since long before he had left. The sadness and confusion that had last clouded her eyes was replaced with a joy and clarity he had not seen in a long time. "Welcome home," she breathed.
Emiko stood back a bit watching the whole scene unfold before her. She knew that there was a possibility that things would go this way. Here was the girl he had loved for years, next to a woman he had liked for only a few months.
"You all have to meet someone very special to me," she heard him say. "Emiko, come here please. Don't be shy." He waved her over and pulled her close to him. "This is Emiko, my girlfriend. Emiko, this is Usagi, Minako, Rei, Ami, and Makoto. These are the girls I've been telling you about. They'll take care of everything you need, and a few things you don't if you're not careful."
"Ohayo gosamas, dozo hiroshuku."
"Oh, don't get all formal on us. A friend of Mamo-chan's is a friend of ours." Minako said throwing her arm over her shoulder. "Now where are those bags?"
The gang sat in Crown Arcade having dinner and laughing about new and old times. Motoki had joined them and was telling Emiko stories of the Mamoru that was when they were still children.
Ami watched as the gang laughed around her. She mostly watched Mamoru, Usagi, and Emiko. The three were sitting on the same side with Mamoru in the middle. Occasionally, she would see Mamoru start to touch Usagi's hand and stop himself just short of doing so. It appeared the old habits truly did die hard. Emiko seemed to be taking the whole thing in stride. She neither hung on Mamoru, nor did she lean away from him. She seemed to genuinely enjoy his gentle touch and quick laughter. They seemed very comfortable together.
"Ok, well enough about the old Mamo-chan. When do we get to see all of these great works of art you have created? Have you given up on your medical career completely?"
"No, no, nothing like that. My art actually just helps me to relax and get my head on straight. You'll get to see my work day after tomorrow in the exhibit just like everyone else."
"Oh, come now, you wouldn't be hiding anything from us would you?" teased Rei from across the table.
"You know I could never hide anything from you girls. That's why Jessica has them," Mamoru laughed at the scowls stared back at him from 5 faces.
"Aw, what did you say to upset my little Odango?" Seiya asked as he came up behind the group.
"Seiya," Usagi leapt up from her seat and into the arms of her love. She kissed him deeply as the other Starlights came up behind the two. A quick poke in the ribs separated the two.
"Seiya, Usa-chan, when will you ever learn to be considerate of other people's feelings. Can't you see you are embarrassing them?" level-headed Taiki said. Usagi and Seiya looked at the group, slightly flushed and were greeting with looks ranging from adoration, to jealously to disgust. Yaten and Minako, however, had nothing to say as they were in the process of cleaning each other's tonsils.
Wow, thought Mamoru, there was no way I could compete with that. I should have known better than to have tried to hold on to her from so far away with him so near. Emiko seemed to be sensing his thoughts and placed a small kiss on his cheek. He looked over into her face and saw the radiant glow of her love shining up at him. He smiled softly at her and ran a gentle, loving finger down her cheek. You can't always have what you're looking at, he could hear Jessica say, but you can always have what's looking at you. Sometimes, you just have to turn around.
Seiya and the others pulled up a table and everyone rearranged to sit at the table next to their respective partners. This time Seiya and Usagi sat across from Mamoru and Emiko. It was almost a bizarre mirror. Emiko leaned on Mamoru's arm just as Usagi did on Seiya. And both gentlemen had intense looks on their faces. Seiya was afraid that old emotions would take his love from him, and Mamoru was torn between his new love and his former love that was older than time.
Motoki broke the awkward silence buy asking the gang if they wanted to split some desserts and offering them on the house. They gradually eased up and soon the laughter flowed around them all again. Both men were a little nervous, but neither wanted to be the first to show any signs of weakness.
"Emiko, I think I owe you an apology," Mamoru said to her as they sat in his apartment. "Today, I was a real jerk. Here I had such a lovely woman on my arm and all I could think of was what I lost and how he doesn't deserve her. I'm sorry. I know my life with her is over. But this is a lot harder than I thought it would be. It was such a shock seeing the two of them together. I didn't know what to do or what to say. And worst of all, I didn't even think about you. I never even considered your feelings."
"It's no big deal Mamo-chan. I knew what I was getting into when I accepted Jessica's invitation. In fact that's part of the reason I came. To remind you that you are not alone, and she is not all you have to live for. You have me, all of your new friends in the states, and even wacky Jessica to keep you company. Now, don't give it another thought. Let's get to bed; we have a really big day tomorrow." She kissed him on the cheek and went off to the shower.
I truly am a lucky man.
Wow, that one was hard…I knew where I wanted to go, but it took so long to get there. Oh well. Next time we'll get to see more of Seiya and Usagi as well as Mamoru's mystery pieces. Will they be enough to turn Usagi's eyes back to him, or do they make the bond even stronger. Tune in next time to find out. Sailor Moon says!