By
Moonlight Bunny
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the SM characters. Takeuchi Naoko-sama owns them.
Summary: Usagi and her friends finally graduate and live a normal life, after their last battle against Galaxia. Just as they thought that everything would be ok, something happens which put the whole future in danger. Mamoru goes back to the States to finish his studies, the Three Lights are back and accidents starts to happen, as well as broken hearts.
Chapter two: The Return
Students were running out from the school. Some were crying and some were laughing, but one thing they all shared was the feeling of joy. A feeling that gushed over them. A certain feeling that made them relief over not worrying over another test or make up test. They were now officially grown ups. They were free to do whatever they wanted with their lives. And there was no one who'd stop them from accomplishing their dreams.
Among the crowd stood a group of five young women and two young men. The girls had just gone out silently, while the boys laughed. They stood outside the gates for a brief moment, before the blonde girl with a red bow started to jump up and down of pure joy. The others smiled at their blonde friend who was acting more like a child than a grown up.
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"Oh my god! I can't believe it's over! I… I… I feel like crying." Minako squealed.
"Why? We've just gone out of High School for about… 15 minutes ago. Do you want to start school again? And so soon?" Rei teased while checking her watch.
"No, miss hello-I'm-a-hot-tempered-priestess-going-over-to-sarcasm! I feel like crying because we finally get peace here, achieving our dreams, surviving high school and now beginning a new life." Minako said with tears in her eyes.
"Yeah, I can't believe it either. We finally graduated together as we promised." Ami said, while crying onto Ryo, who was comforting her.
"Me too! I feel a new beginning form. A new chapter." Usagi smiled while tears fall down her cheek.
"We all need a new beginning. And a good one too…"The girls nodded, agreeing with what Usagi said. They could feel a new start forming. And they hoped that it was for the good this time after all they had gone through. The girls stood there for a moment and looked at each other seeing that the other one were shedding silent tears. Then they started to laugh at each other and pointing.
"Hey, why are we all standing here for, feeling sad and crying our eyes out? Come on, let's go to my restaurant and celebrate! It's on the house!" Makoto laughed and cried at the same time.
"Mako-chan's right! What are we standing here for? Let's go before I start to cry too." Rei said with tears starting to form in her eyes.
The whole gang stood and glanced at the school for one last time. All the five girls knew that the school brought old memories, especially memories of the three who once went there. Graduation was a perfect closure, so they all could start a new beginning. They stood there for a couple of more minutes before walking away from the building that now seemed so lonely without the noise from the young ones.
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Later on, at the restaurant…"I can't believe that my little baby girl has grown up to a young beautiful and intelligent woman. It seems only like yesterday, when I first held you in my arms, when I heard you say your first words "Daddy", when I saw you take your first steps and when…" but the last words was cut by Kenji's cries and muffles like "I'm old." and "I have to see monsters running after my daughter!" ;;
"There, there, honey… You're not old." Ikuko said as she tried to comfort Kenji.
Usagi watched the scene in front of her and sweat dropped. She knew that, no matter how old she was, she'd still be her dad's little girl. And the scenery there was a living proof. She shook her head and giggled as she ran and hugged her parents. They were good parents, even if they didn't know the secret she was hiding. She wanted to reveal it to them, but right now wasn't the good time since she didn't know how they would react. She closed her eyes, still hugging them, but then let go when she heard familiar voices greet her.
"Congratulations everyone, and especially you, my koneko-chan! I told you that you would do great." Haruka winked, making Usagi blush.
"We're very proud of you, Usagi-chan." Michiru elbowed Haruka and smiled as she went and hugged the blonde girl.
"Thanks, Haruka-chan, Michiru-chan!" Usagi smiled at the beautiful couple and turned around to the two other more voices, which appeared.
"Usagi-chan! Congratulations!"
"So am I. You've really grown up into a beautiful woman. And I'm really proud of you, my princess." Setsuna and Hotaru said.
"Arigatou minna! For believing in me and all." Usagi said with tears in her eyes.
Rei who was now standing beside her, gave her a nudge and smiled. Usagi looked up to her best friend and saw tears in those violet eyes. Out of everyone in the group, she and Rei were the closest. She remembered the first time she met her. Amazed by Rei's beauty and her mysterious aura that surrounded her. Usagi had always wanted to be like her and decided that from that moment Rei would be her role model. Rei was flattered when she saw Usagi try her best in everyway to be like her, it sometimes angered her. She didn't want Usagi to be like her, she didn't want her to change. She wanted Usagi to be the way she was, cause that's how she came to like the blonde girl. She had always been jealous 'cause Usagi was always carefree and innocent.
Who would've thought that the two girls would become the bestest friends or more likely sisters? They would bicker and have a tongue war, but if you looked beyond it all you would see two girls who cared for each other, who would do everything just to see the other one smile.
Usagi tilted her head and smiled as if she could read what Rei was thinking.
"I'm very proud of you, Usako!" a male voice suddenly said. Usagi turned around smiling. She knew whose voice it belonged too.
"M-Mamo-chan!" Usagi cried out while running into his arms.
"But I thought you wouldn't come until tomorrow?"
"I wanted to surprise you. Besides I would never miss my love's graduation for anything in the world." Mamoru said as he planted a kiss on her forehead.
Usagi didn't know what to say. Yesterday she was mad at him, because he wouldn't be able to attend and then he suddenly shows up and says sweet things. She didn't know what to do next. She wanted to cry, be angry with him for being mean and lying about missing this important day, but couldn't. Instead she smiled lovingly at him for coming, knowing that he had other important things to do.
The couple looked into each other, ignoring everything and everyone around them. Usagi stood on her tiptoes and Mamoru bended down to kiss the girl, who would soon be his future bride. Time seemed to stop around them. For them the kiss seemed to last forever, but for the others a short moment.
Ami rested her head on Ryo's shoulder, while he wrapped his arms around her waist. Yuuichirou was blushing and laughing nervously, while Rei's grandpa shook his finger at him telling him, that he'd better not find Yuuichirou do the same thing with Rei in front of a public. Rei just stood there with her arms crossed and sighed, shaking her head. She was going to go over and stop the scolding, but halted and felt herself blush, when she heard her grandpa tell Yuuichirou about duties, weddings and babies. As if on cue, Minako appeared behind Rei, startling the raven-haired beauty. The blonde snickered and smugly said something, which made Rei slap Minako at the back of her head. Just as Rei was going to give Minako the scolding of her life, Shinozaki came and saved the blonde, asking if she wanted to help Makoto. Minako felt relieved and mouthed a thank you, before running into the kitchen.
Haruka turned away, saying that if she didn't see anything then she wouldn't do anything. Michiru laughed softly and hugged her lover, saying that no matter where the two of them went she'd never get bored. Hotaru on the other hand didn't understand what they meant and then said something which made the couple blush, while Setsuna on the other led Hotaru away, laughing at what she just heard.
Kenji was trying hard to not go over and break the kissing couple apart. It was bad enough to know that his little girl had grown up, but it was worse to know the fact that another man had already taken his daughter away from his. Suddenly Kenji rolled his sleeves up, saying that he was going to have a one on one talk with Mamoru. Ikuko slapped Kenji hard on his head, scolding him. Shingo on the other looked at his sister and said that it was a good thing that Usagi found a man, otherwise he would be stuck with her until he himself graduated and moved out.
Everyone then turned their attention away, when noises from the kitchen was heard. And out came waiters, balancing treys of food and champagne.
"Well, let the party begin!" Makoto laughed as she opened the champagnes.
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Hours later…
After the party ended everyone went home. The girls planned on meeting each other for a shopping spree the next day. Ryo followed Ami home, Yuuichirou with Rei and her grandpa' back to the temple, Minako got a lift with the outers home, while Shinozaki stayed with Makoto at her restaurant. As for Usagi and Mamoru, they went through their park before following Usagi home.
As soon as Usagi was home she changed to her pyjamas and went to her nightstand and took out a brush. As she was brushing her long golden hair, she thought back on her conversation with Mamoru earlier. The heated conversation they had, when they were walking through the park.
/ Flashbacks \\
In the park…
A couple was sitting on a bench, staring at the lake that was reflecting the moon. They were having a discussion, which made the young woman look down at her feet. Not wanting to show her disappointment.
"So how long will you stay here, before you'll go back to the States and finish your studies?"
"Well, I'll be here for another week. But then I have to go to Europe for a conference. And I will be there 'til the end of summer before I go back."
"A week, huh? I'm happy for you with your accomplishment. Demo… Ano…" the blonde girl said, trying to find the right words to say.
"Ano, Mamo-chan…""I don't want to complain, but I feel like we don't spend much time together anymore!" Usagi cried.
"I know. I want to be with you all the time too, but I want to be a good husband for you. I want to have a great job so that I can support you and Chibi-Usa in the future. There for I have to finish up my studies. I'm this close to achieve it." Mamoru sighed in exasperation.
"You're already doing a great job, Mamo-chan! I don't care if we live in a big house or out in the streets. I would still love you. Mamo-chan, please? Please don't go… Can't you talk with your teachers or something and…"
"Usako! We've discussed this already. God! Can we, just for once, put this conversation down? I don't want to ruin a great night like this now, ok?"
"You're right…" Usagi said, taken aback from Mamoru's outburst.
"You're right... As always… I'm just being selfish. Gomen… Let's just spend the little time we still have left." Usagi whispered and forced a smile.
/ End of flashbacks \\
Usagi sighed. She never did understand why Mamoru was so stubborn with going back. Before he would always drop everything for her, but now was different. Now it seemed like he took his studies and works over her. It's not like she doesn't want what was best for him, but sometimes she wished that he would put his work aside and just spend time with her, like they used to.
"I've never seen Mamo-chan act like this before. But then again, all we ever do nowadays is fight."
"Mamo-chan, I miss you so much. I wish everything were back into normal… We're starting to drift apart. It's like I don't longer know you. Or is it me who's change?" Usagi thought.
/ Flashbacks \\"Usako! We've discussed this already. Can we, just for once, put this conversation down? I don't want to ruin a great night like this now, ok?"
/ End of Flashbacks \\
"Maybe we both have changed? Mamo-chan… I wonder if you still love me? I wonder if I still love you?" Usagi said to herself unnoticed to the tears that fell down on her cheeks.
They were fighting nowadays over him going away, especially to a place that was overseas. Usagi could barely remember when was the last time they had gone out without fighting. Every time their date was going to be romantic something happens. One always says something and the other one object and then they fight. Not like in a quarrel, but it was a fight where you could hear yells and cries. Usagi was saddened by it. They were always fighting and instead of talking through about it, they'd leave it unfinished until one of them starts to bring it up again.
Usagi sighed and put away her brush. She didn't want to think about this again. She was already stressed with her work and soon university. Luna and Artemis had been on the party only for a short moment, just to congratulate the girls. They were going to visit the future. They knew something that the girls didn't, 'cause they went there a lot more often than they should.
Without noticing the three shooting stars out in the night, Usagi closed her window and turned the lights off before going into the world of dreams.
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Out in the park…
Three beautiful women in leather-clad suddenly changed into three handsome men in suits.
"Do you think they still remember us?" asked the short person.
"I don't know… It's been a long time. I wonder if they've changed? If so, how much?" said the tall one.
"Looks like the park has changed since we left, ne?" said the middle one.
"I don't care. Tomorrow we'll go and surprise the girls." the short one said.
"I wonder if miss Mizuno's still the same?"
"So that's why you didn't object when Kakyuu-hime told us about going back to earth." the middle one snickered at the taller guy, who started to blush all different shades of red.
"And what about you? Came back for Minako-san?" retorted the tall one.
"What! No way, I didn't come all the way here just to get attack by that maniac!" shouted the short one.
"And you? Still have feelings for a certain odango-haired girl?"
"That's none of your business, if I came all the way back here just for her!" the middle one snapped back.
"Yeah, right! It became my business since we were the one who comforted you through all those nights while you were crying, thinking about her." the short one spat back.
"What ever shorty…"
"Will you two stop your bickering? You bickered all the way here." the tall one interrupted, getting irritated.
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While they were walking, they noticed that they're friend was somewhere else in his thoughts. They knew whom he was thinking of and sighed sadly. Deep inside them, they knew that returning back here was not a good idea. But then again, it might turn out fine. You'll never know… If only they knew that they themselves would be heart broken over what they would soon find out.
"I just hope that you haven't forgotten about me… Odango…"
A/N: here's the second chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. Please r/r!
Ja ne
/Moonlight Bunny