Well, I'm updating sooner than the last time. I'm sooo happy that I actually have time to update. It's about time that I get some time. Thank you all for your wonderful responses (which none were flames, I'm glad to say). Ummm, so far I'd say that Usagi will live, from what you readers have filled me in on. But, it's still up to you. If you don't tell me what you want....then I'll have to decided. And you might not like it. So VOTE!
Thanx to:
Tropical Remix: Thanx for voting!!
sailorsexy1: Ummm, she will tell him soon. Don't worry.
nadia: I'm sorri! I've had a thing with cliffy's. I'll try to stop crosses fingers behind back I promise!!
HimeYume: Thanx for voting I sound like a broken record player
momocolady: I'm glad that you're letting me decide whether or not to let her live. But I will take your vote!! -. I always like how it feels when I feel like I'm decided something going on in someone else's story. I just want you to have the same feeling!!
Miiaevia: Well I'm not sure if it sounds too much like a Walk to Remember. True it might have a similar idea, but you dont know what I have in store for you. So your opinion might change. Ultimately it's up to you on whether she lives or.....not. Yes I understand that life is depressing enough, but sometimes that's why we write these stories. To get it out in the open.
LOTUSNEKO: lol. I'm sooo glad to know that I'm not the only one addicted to soaps!! sighs what a relief. Well I used to watch practically everything. Up until the day my friend said it was an unhealthy obsession. Anyways- I always look forward to your review. I know I make mistakes.....twirls hair around fingers I'm only human. But I'm glad that you catch them and correct me!! And I'll act on your suggestions. Thanx!!
Silver Moonlight81: You will......soon insert evil laughter
wildflower-fireandwater: lol. I loved your review!!! You the first one to ever say that....hugglez I love that suggestion. I wont let you down.....
abi: Thanx for voting!! there it goes again
aquarius: A lot of suffering suggestions going on. points to wildflower-fireandwater Don't worry...I wont let either of you down (I hope)
Moon's Rose: So you want it to go either way then? Hmmmm, that's good. Yeah I know what you mean. Some authors are just so talented that they know how to make it click. I'm just not sure I'm one of those.
moonrabbit04: I'm glad you think that.
kalinda: Wait no more!!! But your going to have to wait for chappie number four. lol. sorri!!
k: Thanx for voting!!! it's getting old now
blondie: Work my magic.....I like the sound of that!! Thanx.
Standard disclaimer insert here
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
{The same time that Usagi was at the beach}
Mamoru quietly walked out of his apartment and was now casually walking down the busy streets of Tokyo. He watched as the people scattered around hurriedly, with a panic, trying not to be late to their jobs -for those that actually worked on a weekend-. Small children holding onto their mothers hand with fear of being separated with the flowing crowds. Teenagers chatted while passing by shops and stepping in.
He turned around and began to walk into the park. Everything was so peaceful. The only sounds that invaded his ears were the laughter of children, the sweet soft melody of the birds, and a the splashing of the waterfall to his right. Despite all his futile attempts at trying to distract his mind, he couldn't.
Something was wrong -terribly wrong-. He felt it in the pit of his stomach. He had been feeling this for quite sometime, but quickly waved away the thought thinking that he was just simply paranoid...But what can someone do to wave a thought that was gnawing at you constantly? This wasn't a random feeling that someone just has for the heck of it.
His mind wandered back to Usagi and the letter she received from her brother. He was asking forgiveness for leaving her, he thought it was the right decision at the time because of her condition. He questioned her about that so-called condition, and she merely told him that she had a weak immune system and that her mother thought that it was a condition to be weary of. No, he knew she was lying to him, but he didn't want to question her......not yet at least.
Before we was able to think of anything else, a wave of cool air hit him as bells rang in the background.
"Hey Mamoru! What a surprise. To what do I owe this visit?" a cheery voice welcomed. Mamoru snapped out of his thoughts and looked around. A counter was placed before him, with a sandy haired man behind it. To his side, there were booths and off to the other were various arcade games (A/N: I don't really recall how the Crown arcade looked like, so this is just off the top of my head. Go along with me!)
Mamoru walked further and sat down on one of the empty stools. "Umm, to tell you the truth....I kinda got here without even noticing" he let out a nervous chuckle.
"Oh really? Lost in your own thoughts -eh?" Motoki teased.
"Hai, I guess you can say that" he replied meekly.
"Ah, dont worry. It happens to the best of us -or the worst- depending on how you look at it. So since your here, what can I get you?"
Mamoru looked up and smiled. "Umm...black coffee, please?" Motoki nodded and backed away. He looked at his watch, 12:30, he sighed. Can this day go by any slower!!
Motoki quickly returned and handed him a mug with his much desired black coffee, and excused himself so that he could serve the other customers, leaving Mamoru to his thoughts.
'Usako, whats wrong? Why can't I feel your emotions through our link.....why won't you let me in?'
He could feel it, she was blocking him off again. Everything was so screwed up now!! This was supposed to be their time of peace....They had fought all the 'baddies' that they were suppose to, right? Usagi had banished chaos about a year or so ago -so why does it seem like we missed something-.
Mamoru threw some money on the counter before briefly walking away. He need to get out.....he need to talk to someone. Anyone!! Before he could finish off his thoughts....he bumped into someone, or rather -someone- bumped into him!
"Oww!" Mamoru looked down towards a head with light brown hair. He had hoped that it was a certain blonde, but seeing that it was not....(A/N: Know who it is?)
"Watch where your going, brat" he said in a cold unnerving voice. The young boy snapped his head up in anger.
"Who do you think your calling brat!! You jerk....why I oughta....." he stopped mid-sentence, looking up at the man. His eyes squinted in recognition. "Mamoru?" he asked in an unsure voice.
"Do I know you?" Mamoru asked. He looked at the boy, brown hair.....tan-ish skin....green eyes? Was it? 'No it can't be. So soon?'
"It's me....Shingo"
---------------
"Pluto....must we really go through with this?"
Setsuna looked at the figure with a heavy heart and nodded. She didn't want to see her hime suffer, but she can't help it. Things have changed. "I'm afraid I can do nothing to stop it. It has already taken effect. The day she left, was the day that destiny and fate decided to change everything. I will intervene when it is absolutely necessary. I am truly sorry"
The figure slowly nodded. "So am I. So am I"
-----------
(Around 6:30)
"Please Take a seat. I'm sure that Usa would be coming home any minute now. Would you like anything to drink?" he asked with a I-want-you-out-of-my-house-now voice. Shingo -able to make out the tone of his voice- declined anything that Mamoru offered.
They sat there in silence, looking at one another. Shingo squirmed uncomfortably, playing with his hands. He looked at the table to his left and saw a picture there, a picture of his sister. He picked it up and studied it. It was night.....she was standing on a bridge with a white sun dress overlooking a pond. The moon was above her....causing her skin to pale even more under the eerie light. (A/N: That line is not mine. Me and my English teacher were discussing something and she said that......So yeah....) She looked so beautiful, so divine. He let out a heavy sigh and placed the frame back.
He looked up, only to see Mamoru glaring at him. Not that he could blame him. "So...." Shingo began, hoping to relieve some of the tension. "Did Usagi get the letter I sent?"
Mamoru nodded once. "Hai, she did" he answered. "I have a question that I know you can answer" Shingo nodded at him, to proceed. "In your letter...you said that you and your mother left because of Usagi's condition.....what is that condition?"
Shingo's eyes widened. He wasn't expecting that! Kami...how to answer this. "Ano.....you see....it's like this-" before he could finish, the door was swung open and revealed five girls.
"Honey, I'm home!!" Usagi announced as she entered the apartment, failing to detect another person in there.
"Usako, I'm in here" a voice came from the living room. She made her way past the kitchen and walked in with four girls trailing behind her. She scanned the room for a pair of midnight blue eyes....but instead found herself staring into green ones.
"Konnichiwa Usagi-chan" she found herself unable to reply. The only thing she could do was stare at him.
A few seconds passed before she was able to snap out of it. "Shingo?" she whispered unsurely.
Rei's head snapped up and looked at him. "Shingo!? What are you doing here?" she growled. The group quickly followed with,
"-yeah...what's he doing here?"
"-what do you want?"
Shingo sank down lowering his head down in shame and guilt. He knew that they wouldn't roll out the red carpet for him. but he didn't think that they would react this badly.
"Damare!" {Silence!} Usagi shouted. Everyone quickly became silent and looked at her. She turned back and looked at the girls. "I think it would be best if you left"
"Demo..."
She glanced at Ami and Makoto "We'll finish talking later. Please, just go" she pleaded. They nodded, and left quickly just as their hime had asked them to do.
After they left, she turned her attention back at her brother. She didn't know what to say, what was she supposed to say....Hi? Good to see you? I'm glad you came back after leaving me? Shingo, noticing her confusion...stood up and embraced her.
"I'm sooo sorry Usa. I sorry" He cried.
Usagi brought her arms around him and ran her fingers through his hair, soothing him as she whispered into his ear "It's alright. Dont worry".
He pushed himself out of her embraced with a shocked expression. "No, It's not alright. It will never be alright. I can never forgive myself" he said with a heavy guilt.
Usagi gave him a dazzling smile. "I have learned to forgive and forget, why can't you?" He launched himself at her, quickly snuggling into her embrace. He had missed her warm embraces, her caring and forgiving heart. "Though....It will take me a while to trust you again" she said softly.
He quickly nodded in understanding. "I know. I will try my best to gain it back and never loose it again. I promise"
Mamoru watched the scene unfold before him. How could she forgive him so easily?? After what he had did. Granted, it wasn't really his fault.....it was his mothers. But still!! Deciding that it was best that he should say nothing about his thoughts, he coughed to make his presence known. Usagi let go of her brother and walked towards him and gave him a quick peck on the mouth.
"So, Shingo were are you staying at?" Usagi asked.
He shrugged. "I dont know....Hotel maybe" he replied. Usagi's smile grew wider.
"Why not stay here. We have a guest bedroom. It would be no trouble at all" Mamoru shot her a look of annoyance. Usagi simply ignored him as she carried her conversation with him.
----------------
A/N: I was going to end it there.....but since it has been like a month or so....I decided to add a tad more. Enjoy. Just keep in mind....The more reviews I get, the longer the chapters will be!!
-----------------
"What's he doing here?!?!" Rei asked angrily slamming her hand on the table.
"Careful with the booths 'Mars', you wouldn't want to pay for them....right?" Andrew asked teasingly. Rei mumbled something under her breath. "And who's here?" he asked suddenly remembering her previous question -that was really just directed at her-.
"Shingo" Ami informed him. Andrew's eyebrows shot up at the mention of the name.
"Usak...Usagi's brother?" he mentally slap himself over the head for calling her that.
"Yes! Him.....Why would he be here?" Makoto asked turning her gaze over to Ami. Everyone else followed her lead.
Ami looked around, staring straight into curious eyes. "Why are you all staring at me!! It's not like I know!" she yelled accusingly. Everyone lowered their gazes and mumbled their sorrys' at her.
"Well there has to be a reason as to why he's here. But what would it be?"
---------
"I just came to study....and well to see you of course" he informed Usagi.
Usagi passed him a plate with food before sitting herself down across from him and beside Mamoru.
"....and...and what of Ikuko?" she asked. Refusing to call her mother. (A/N: Is that her mothers' name? If not...please correct me!!)
"She's alive. If that's what you mean. She re-married and has a little girl that keeps asking about you. I was thinking about bringing her....but I didn't think it would be right"
"Oh. Whats her name?" curiosity got the best of her. She leaned forward, placing her elbows on the table.
Shingo chuckled. "Well, we call her chibi-usa" (A/N: Sorri, I just dont like to think of her as Usa & Mamo's daughter. I mean....she had this crush on him.....it's just too gross!! If you dont like it....-Deal!)
Mamoru and Usagi glanced at each other quickly. Mamoru coughed and asked "Does she happen to have pink hair?"
Shingo's eyes widened in surprise before nodding. "Yeah she does. How do you know?" Mamoru only shrugged.
"Just guessing. How old is she?" Mamoru asked when he saw that Usagi was still out of it. She sunk back into her chair with her arms folded in front of her chest.
"She's 4 right now. She's so cute. She can barley even speak a word, and already she's been asking about you" he looked at Usagi. Sensing that eyes were on her, she looked up and met his gaze.
"How does she even know about me?" she began to tap her foot underneath the table.
"I have pictures of you in my bedroom. And she asked me who that girl in the picture was. So I told her" his eyes seemed distant. As if trying to recall a past dream.
---------------
Shingo sat on his bed looking at the ceiling, as if expecting it to open up and drop something that he wanted to see the most. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear someone enter the room and crawl next to him on the bed.
"ingo?" a small voice came, waking him from his thoughts. He looked over and embraced the small girl beside him. Her ruby eyes looked up at him with curiosity and innocence that he had only seen in one other person -Usagi-. He ran one of his hands through her soft pink hair, feeling it's smoothness. (Not in a bad way)
"Ingo?" she repeated twice.
Finally snapping out of his day dream, he looked down at her. "Yes?"
"Purtty" she stated as if he knew what she was talking about. He kept his eyes glued to her small form and raised an eyebrow. "Who's purtty?" he questioned.
She let out a small sigh and pouted before pushing him away and hopped off the bed, going around to the left and picking up a medium silver frame that was on top of the nightstand. Carefully she walked over to him and placed it on the bed for him to see.
"She purtty" her fat finger pointed down to the girl in the photo. He picked it up and smiled. "Do you want to know how that is?" he asked her, she nodded at him to continue.
"That's your sister, Usagi. She's my sister, so that also makes her yours" he explained. She looked at him in awe.
"big shishter?" he nodded once. She squealed and took the frame out of his hands and ran to her room and placed it on her vanity. And kept it there ever since.
He laughed merrily before laying down again and placed his arms behind his head. "I'm sorry, Usagi. I'm sorry" he whispered to himself.
------------
"Hey, are you alright?" Usagi began to wave her hands in front of her brother, hoping that would snap him out of whatever he was in. His head snapped up.
"Wha?" not quite catching what she had asked him.
"What were you thinking about?" she questioned.
Shingo shrugged and lowered his head. "Nothing" he relied.
"Oh, alright then. Well hey...I'm going to go to bed now. That escapade with the girls tired me out" she let out a small giggle. Turning to Shingo she said "Your bedroom is down the hall, two doors to the right. It's right next to the bathroom. Mamo-chan, do you think you can clean this up for me, please?" she pleaded. He gave her a quick nod before he stood up and embraced her.
"I'll join you shortly" he said before promptly kissing her lips. She gave her little brother a smile before leaving.
Mamoru turned and gave Shingo a look of annoyance, then sighed and ran his hand through his silky ebony hair. He began to pick up all the dirty dishes and went to the sink to wash them. Rolling up his sleeves, he turned the faucet on and reached for a plate. Shingo kept looking at him, as if expecting a question. Confirming his suspicions, her saw Mamoru turn and look at him.
"You didn't answer my question" he growled.
Shingo contemplated on whether or not to tell him himself. If Usagi hadn't informed him yet....then she didn't want him to know. So, who was he to just let it out in the open. He shook his head. "I can't tell you. Ask Usagi if you really want to know, but I suggest that you wait a while"
'Wait awhile!! Who the hell does he think he's talking to.....that little son of a ......why I oughta!!'
"Whatever" he calmly stated. He finished washing the dishes and wiped his hand with a cloth near one of the cabinets. He walked out of the kitchen and stood in front of Shingo.
"You better not hurt her. Or I'll hurt you. Got that?" he got a squeal for an answer. Assuming that he had understood, he walked away and went into the first door to his left.
Shingo let out a sigh of relief. He took a long look at his surroundings, then headed off to bed.
------------------------------------
A/N: Well that's it for this chapter. I already have the next one close to finished. So, as soon as I get some reviews....I will post it up. And I apologize if there are any mistakes in the chapter. I dont have a beta reader for this story. And I don't tend to catch my mistakes 'till after I post it.
I'm glad that all of you have been enjoying this story. I've been working hard on keeping the story line in order. It might not be the same as Naoko's, but I'm trying...Kay?
Please Review, and I'll post the next chappie soon. I promise!! . But if I only get like two....well...I dont really know what will happen, but it would really suck!!
'Till next time
Serenity's Rose