Again Sailor Moon doesn't belong to me...
As Mamoru entered his apartment, he kicked his shoes off and pressed his answering machine. He was a creature of habit, he couldn't help it. As he waited for the machine's voice to say, 'you have no new messages' he continued shedding his work clothes as he shrugged out of his green blazer. However he paused as an unfamiliar voice rang out throughout the spacious apartment.
"Hello Mr Chiba, this is the Azabu Institute of Art. You recently purchased a painting from Yumeno, Yumemi's exhibition and it's ready to be picked up." Mamoru's brow rose in confusion as he tried to recall whether he had heard that name before. No one of that name seemed to register in his mind and he quickly jotted down the number that the caller left. He looked to the wall where his clock rested, sighing as he wouldn't be able to call them until the next day to sort the mess out.
Ever since he had moved into his apartment, he had hardly made any changes. He really didn't see the point. He was the only person who lived here, if you really called it that. He ate here, he studied here, and he slept here. One the very rare occasion, and he could only count those on one hand he had had a person over. So the walls remained an off white, and bare.
He sighed.
It had never bothered him before. Why was it starting to now?
Feeling the need to get out of his apartment, he changed into his running clothes and grabbed his keys, stuffing them into his pockets. As he exited the building, he jogged the few streets over to the park and began to stretch his limbs. As night was beginning to fall there wasn't a lot of people left in the park, which coincidently was how he liked it. He shifted his right leg forward. Transferring his weight from his extended left foot to his bended right foot and feeling the pull the muscle. He switched legs again and then started into a light jog.
Between juggling his studies, his modelling gigs and his lack of a social life, this was how he relaxed. The gentle motion of his feet tapping the pavement as his arms swung up and down. When he ran, he felt like he could sort his thoughts and bring things into perspective. He had made many life changing decisions around the track of the park. It was here that he decided that if he didn't know who he was at least he could decide his future. It was here that he decided to take the money that had been bequeathed to him by his late parents and leave the orphanage, the only home he could remember. It was here that he finally decided between a business and a medical scholarship two years ago at the age of 17.
He pumped his legs, following the trail around the gardens. Normally he would stop and smell the roses, but today something pushed him towards the lake. The lightposts began flickering on, and Mamoru could see his shadow following him from the corner of his eye.
He jogged to a stop as he saw a familiar figure. If it was any other day but today, he would just continue on his merry way. But, Mamoru found that he couldn't stop himself as he walked over to the blonde who sat at the edge of the pier.
"Usagi?" The blonde's head twisted as she looked up and gave him a questioning look, her eyes widening ever so slightly. She quickly closed a book that rested in her lap, and he watched as she swallowed nervously. "It's getting dark. You really shouldn't be here."
Her nails skimmed across the cover of her book, and she shrugged as she tucked a pencil into her hair. "What do you care?" Her voice was clipped, but he couldn't help but notice the tiny break of her voice.
He shrugged, the question surprising him as he couldn't for the life of him find an answer that would sate his own curiosity. The park could be a dangerous place, and she was only a kid. If something happened how would she be able to take care of herself? He was tempted to turn on his heel and start heading home, but he couldn't force herself to move. Usagi's blue eyes waivered slightly and she turned her attention back to her notebook. She opened it up and started drawing against the thick paper.
Curiosity getting the best of him, he sank down next to her and glanced over her shoulder. His interest was raised as he watched as she drew a cartooned man and woman. She must have felt his eyes on her, because she paused and turned her head to look at him. "What are you drawing?"
Her eyes flickered from her book and him, he could understand her hesitance to answer him. They were enemies, making fun of one another on a daily basis. They didn't do deep and meaningful. They yelled at each other, insulting one another but he had an inkling that this wasn't going to be one of those interactions today. "Can I ask you something?"
It was an innocent question, but he didn't know whether or not he wanted to answer it. Especially when he had no idea what she was going to ask. Without speaking he nodded and she smiled tightly.
"Do you think that it's possible to love someone over two lifetimes?" Her voice was soft, hardly anything like the shrieking that she did during their arguments at the arcade. "Or do you think that they can have a fresh start without any of the baggage that they had in the previous life?"
His eyebrow rose at her question. His eyes traced the figures of her cartoons, a man and a woman. The two figures looked as different as night and day. The man had black hair and the woman had blonde, he was tall and she was short. "I don't know."
She looked dejected, tracing the man's figure with her fingers.
He felt a twinge of guilt, as she placed her book on the pier and she went to get up. He gently tugged her arm and she sat back down. "I suppose, depending on the people it's possible." He believed what he was saying and tried not to be affected when she turned her innocent blue eyes towards him. Mamoru was surprised as Usagi's eyes glinted with hope and it was because of something that he did, and a small smile trailed across her mouth.
Ever since he could remember, Usagi had never smiled because of him. Sure she had cried, he cringed at that, feeling guilty for all of his previous crimes against her. She had also yelled, screamed, scoffed, whined- ok maybe he was missing the point now, but she had never smiled because of him. A warm feeling stirred in his chest and he could feel his own lips curling up to mirror hers. "Mamoru?" She started, her voice small compared to her normal volume. "Can I tell you a story?"