Chapter 2

I finally was settled into my own apartment thanks to my boyfriend, friends, and family members. I breathed a sigh of relief when everyone was gone but Mamoru. Ami and Rei had class early tomorrow while I had an afternoon class. I had calls from Mina and Mako after they settled into their own apartment they were sharing. They had chosen a college an hour away from our own college. I remember how sadden I was when I found out where they were staying.

I thought we were always going to stay together forever. But, even with our own duties as Guardians of the Earth, we still were human and students who needed further education or so Ami had said.

"Are you sure you're all right?" Mamo-chan asked for the second time that night we were cuddled on the couch. I lacked the certain response, I guess, for to satisfy his question fully. I admit, I wasn't sure if I was okay with this arrangement. In the morning, Mamoru would be going back to his own apartment forty minutes away, and just the thought caused me a pang of homesickness. We had talked about this before, and while talking it sounded ideal, now, when it was happening, I felt a bit lost.

"I'm all right." I replied softly. I would be, I promised myself. I felt his lips on my neck and felt his kiss planted that sent shivers down my spine. I smiled and turned around to rest my forehead on his chest.

"You don't seem all right, Usako," His voice sounded really sad, like what I was feeling. For this night, I would really have just loved to stay enclosed in his arms. Just as we were about to doze off, there was a frequent buzzing that came from the doorbell. Mamoru sighed as he disentangled himself from me and walked to the door. I figured that Ami and Rei were still up. I couldn't have been more wrong.

I stood up when I didn't hear anyone come in or being invited by Mamoru. He was still at the door when I walked toward the doorway. I was surprised to see a man standing there with a pleasant smile on his handsome face.

Mamoru turned his head at hearing my inquiry of who was at the door. He turned around fully and was smiling widely. It was such a rare sight to behold for Mamo to smile so big, that it gave my heart a jolt.

He moved out the way and said, "This was my best friend in high school!"

I gave him a weird look before looking at the stranger who smiled at me.

"I'm so sorry to intrude like this, but I couldn't help but notice Mamoru and had to come see if it was him." The stranger laughed and smiled at Mamoru, "And it certainly IS him! I live two doors down, and when I was on my way to work I spotted someone familiar and, it was him!" the man laughed eagerly. "You must be Tsukino, Usagi that he always writes about."

"It's been a few years since we've seen each other." Mamoru said, "We kept in touch through mail." He looked back at the man that I still didn't know the name to. "I never dreamed I'd see you here!" Mamo shook hands with him. "Oh! How forgetful I am, Usako, this is Ogino, Hisoka, Hisoka, this is Tsukino, Usagi."

"Pleasure to meet you!" The dark haired man said, embracing my hand that I held out in a Western greeting. His hand was very warm and I felt a jolt in my senses that I hadn't felt in quite a long time. I quickly took my hand away, and it did not go amiss from Mamoru who gave a look of confusion before he masked it.

"I'm pleased to meet you as well." I said breathily. Ogino looked rather baffled and then looked at Mamo again.

"Well, I need to head back. I just wanted to see if it was truly you! We've got to hang out once in a while. It's been way too long." Ogino said, clapping Mamo on the shoulder before backing out of the entrance.

With a few more goodbyes and promises of seeing each other soon, Mamoru closed the door. "What happened?" Mamoru asked, leading me back to the couch.

He sat down and offered his arms out for me to snuggle into his embrace. "I don't know, to be honest. It's strange."

"Tell me about it."

"It's nothing I'm sure. I think it was just a passing of a static electricity." I said with a laugh. He didn't seem too convinced but he dropped it. The rest of the evening was quiet, with watching shows and then we went to bed.

My day started out pretty terrible. It rained for the most part, Mamoru went back home in the morning, and I had class in the evening. Orientation was that morning – and I had forgotten – but thankfully Mamoru reminded me, woke me up from my deep slumber, and helped me get ready in order to make it with two minutes to spare. Rei and Ami were not very pleased with my less than graceful appearance. I had tripped over my shoe strings I had forgotten to tie and fell right into the lap of the Dean himself. How, I had no idea how I managed it. Thank goodness he was a very sweet man. It didn't help though he made a joke about promptness and how it affect one's balance of work ethics and personal space. My face was red like a beet, and I sat there ashamed. Every eye was on me, I was very sure.

After being berated by Rei for a full ten minutes after Orientation was over, we went to the cafeteria to get a bite to eat for missed breakfast before their morning classes.

Rei sighed as she finished her food, and with a great yawn, said, "I don't know why they have us go through two hours of boring Orientation, then have class right after. This is such a drag. I was hoping to sleep late."

"You knew what you were getting yourself into when you applied." Ami said, stretching her arms over her head and adjusting her glasses. "You even said it yourself; the advisor you were assigned said it was best if you had most morning classes; that way you can study better at night. And the fact that you were possibly not paying attention at all because he was cute."

"Ugh, I never implied he was cute." Rei said with a groan, "Besides," her voice was muffled through her hands sh had thrown over her, "he was married."

I laughed, and earned a rich glare from Rei. "What? It's not my fault you go for married men."

"Shut up, Usagi." Rei said, crossing her arms. Then she sighed and said, "I really don't know what I was thinking, but next semester I'll definitely pay attention."

"Make sure he doesn't have a ring this time." I giggled and felt a foot hit my shin. I rubbed it while grousing about how unfair Rei was.

"When's your class, Usagi?" Ami asked. I guess she was tired of our ongoing battle of wits

"At four." I cringed when the thunder broke through the silence of the almost emptied cafeteria.

"Hopefully this mess will be over by then." Rei said, looking at into the gloom.

"I don't think the weatherman said it would let up soon though. It's only ten though, so maybe you're right." Ami said; looking down at her watch. "As a matter of fact, we should get going. Our class starts in ten minutes." She took her book bag and put it on her shoulder. Rei did the same.

Rei looked back at me and frowned, "Are you going to be okay by yourself for an hour?"

I gave Rei a very annoyed look but smiled, "Of course I will be."

Rei and Ami looked at each other before saying their good byes. I didn't quite understand their look they had just exchanged and I wasn't in the mood to decipher it.

I walked back to my apartment that night, trying to keep from falling on the floor and sleeping right there near the entryway. I had a full fledge day and I was ready to welcome my nice cozy bed to slumber until the next day where I was free. I was very happy I listened to Ami about taking college in stride and not hurting myself in overloading my time with classes. So, I only took two basic math and Japanese classes.

I tried to unlock my door when my key slipped out of my already struggling hands. I grumbled something and bent down to catch them when I felt the same tingling I had experienced from Ogino the night before. I looked up to stare into the dark eyes of Ogino himself.

"Oh." I inhaled, smelling his cologne. It was a pleasant scent, more exotically earthy than the clean smell I was used to Mamo wearing. "Hello Ogino-san."

"So you remember me." Ogino said with a grin. "I'm sorry, I just saw you were struggling so I wanted to come help. Here you are." He handed me the key he had bent down to scoop up and was careful his time not to make skin contact with me. I gave him an odd look when he started walking away.

"You have a good night, Usagi." He said. I frowned at the familiarity he used with me; I only met him last night. I don't know why it bothered me so much. I was so tired, I didn't even bother to dwell on it. I turned the key and walked into my apartment where I locked up and went straight to bed.

##

So, here's the deal. I was severely lacking the motivation to write this chapter. I lost lots of time doing other projects that I neglected this one even though it was screaming for release. half of it was written and I just lacked the key ingredient to pump out this chapter faster than I did. Thank you kindly for the reviews and the followers and favorites! They continuously make my day! And encourage me to keep on with this story! Even though this story is quite a challenge because I don't write much in first person or SM fanfics period, I hope this story is up to part. I tried to make this chapter longer, and I was a little successful. I hope the next chapter is much longer. The plot shall kick up a notch maybe in the next chapter!

Enjoy!