A/N: And here comes the beginning of delayed chapters. Please accept my humblest apologies, you all. I'm in my graduate law program in the States so this summer I'm working full-time during the day and taking night class. Still, I'm trying to carve out time for writing, it does feel so very therapeutic.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the rights to Sailor Moon, I just owe Naoko Takeuchi my first born.
Chapter 3
Usagi tapped the eraser of her wooden pencil against her nose for what seemed like the hundredth time. In an effort to avoid Mamoru, the girls, and even Luna, she was hiding in the one place she knew no one ever expected to look for her - the library. Granted, she'd only been avoiding them for one day since the break up, but she already hated it. She pulled out her dreaded English homework, only to stare off into space and absentmindedly doodle on one of the worksheets.
When she looked down on her paper, she realized she had been unconsciously making a light sketch of a bed, much bigger than the one she owned, and with a sophisticated iron frame that felt so much more adult than the one in her room. This had been a strange and repeated occurrence over the past 24 hours. Since she severed her bond from Mamoru, she would get pictures - barely even glimpses - that made no sense to her, and yet meant so much to her. Perhaps drawing them will help me understand…
Manga Club! Shoot, I still need to talk to the girls about moving our senshi meeting. Knowing she could not avoid them and her "announcement" any longer, she began packing her things, and headed out the door towards the Parlor.
The doors slid to allow Usagi's frame inside the Fruit Parlor,and she felt her body flinch at the sight of Mamoru's back sitting at the counter stools, Motoki engaging in small talk with his best friend as he cleaned some glasses. Usagi gave a small wave to Motoki's questioning glance, and quickly made her way to the booth she knew her senshi would be seated at.
"Usagi!" the chorus of voices exclaimed, as she took a seat amongst them. The girls all looked pleased to see her, although various tones of relief and concern filtered through their voices.
"Usagi, where have you been? We thought you'd be here way before us!" Rei said, flicking the blonde's nose teasingly but still looking intensely at her princess's face.
"We just missed you Usa," Makoto interjected soothingly, flicking Rei's hand away. "Hey, how come you haven't said hi to Mamoru? You always say him to first," she joked, stopping when she noticed Usagi's face fall.
"I…uh… have something to tell you guys," Usagi said slowly, causing even Ami and Minako - both dutifully reading their physics textbook and gossip magazine respectively - to glance up and stop what they're doing.
"This sounds juicier than the Three Lights breaking u- ow! sorry sorry," Minako whined as Rei elbowed her in the stomach.
"Mamoru and I broke up," Usagi said quietly. She was met with resounding silence.
"WHAT?!"
"I WILL GO KICK HIS SORRY ASS-"
"WHY WOULD HE DO SOMETHING-"
"THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE"
Usagi wasn't sure which comment came from who as they all came at the exact same time and with the same level of pitch. She shush'd them as quickly as she could, turning quickly to see if Mamoru had noticed, and saw that his back remained turned. He really wants nothing to do with me… wait why do they think he did something?
"I'm the one who ended it," Usagi interjected, quickly silencing the increasing commotion of her senshi plotting the death of a certain ebony-haired prince sitting not too far from their vicinity.
"You did? Wow, you really are an Odango-Atama, aren't you? You love him! He is literally all you talk about all the time" Rei admonished, causing Usagi to flinch. It was still fresh, and Rei wasn't wrong. She still loved him with all her heart, but it didn't mean she was good for him.
"Usagi-chan, I'm sure we can fix this. What happened? Maybe we can explain to him-"
"Explain to him what, Mako-chan? That we're just not a good fit? That destiny made a mistake?" Usagi cut Makoto off to say and pulled back, Makoto's eyes wide as she had never been spoken to that way by her sweet-natured friend.
"Usagi-chan, destiny doesn't make mistakes. You are the reincarnated crown princess of the moon, Mamoru-san is the reincarnated crown prince of Earth. You were meant to be with each other," Ami explained clinically, although concern still flickered in her eyes for Usagi.
Minako stayed quiet throughout this interaction, and everyone seemed to notice.
"Minako-chan, say something! You're the senshi of love - tell her she's being a baka and to apologize to Mamoru-san," Rei all but shouted, only to have Minako's hand firmly placed in her face.
"Usagi-chan, you haven't been happy for some time now," Minako started with a faraway look on her face. Usagi's already-large eyes widened considerably at Minako's observation, but Usagi made no motion to stop her. Minako put her hand over Usagi's and squeezed gently. The sweet gesture caused Usagi's heart to clench. Hold the tears, hold the tears. Don't be the crybaby.
"I don't think you've fallen out of love with Mamoru-san, but that you need time to figure out what you want - does that sound correct?" Minako asked, smiling gently as Usagi sniffled and nodded in response. Even when she was being her bravest, the girls felt an automatic need to protect their young princess at the mere inkling of vulnerability.
"Take all the time that you need, we'll always be here for you." Minako concluded, and the rest of the girls put a hand over Usagi and Minako's.
"Thank you, you guys." Usagi whispered, and the girls looked at each other, questions still forming in their eyes. Why hadn't they seen all the signs of Usagi's unhappiness? What will the break-up do for the life they had set up?
Usagi cleared her throat, catching the attention of the senshi yet again.
"If it's okay with you guys, could we move senshi meetings over a day? There's a new club I want to join at Mugen, and it meets at the same time as our current senshi meetings?" Usagi asked.
"I have-" Ami started before Minako covered Ami's mouth quickly.
"Of course Usagi-chan. We'll set up something that works for everyone soon. Should I let Mamoru-san know?" Minako asked, making Usagi flinch yet again.
"No, I can let him know now. We still must work together as a team," Usagi said, feeling a bit braver as she had mustered the courage to talk with the girls.
Usagi got out of her seat and waved, leaving the four young women to blink at each other, confusion still fresh on their face.
"What just happened?" Makoto asked, looking at the young girl's retreating form.
"I'm not sure, but I'm scared. I just hope she'll let us be there for her," Minako explained, and the rest of the senshi nodded.
"Hey... Mamoru-san," Usagi said, the formality feeling so dreadful coming off her tongue as she approached his form with slouched shoulders at the counter.
Mamoru turned slowly, still unsure of what to do after the past couple of hours of being here. He had been sitting in this same counter seat, since he got out of class, anxious at the thought of seeing Usagi again. On one hand, he had accomplished what he had set out to do: push her away from him and keep her safe. But on the other, he didn't expect how final it felt. How much the severance of their bond affected him, and how the loneliness he was once accustomed to, felt so much more bleak after having Usagi in his orbit. It had taken every ounce of strength not to run to her table with the senshi and beg for her to take him back, even though he knew he couldn't. Would destiny really bring us back together to push us away like this again?
"I just wanted to let you know that we're moving the senshi meetings to Thursdays, I hope you can still be there." Usagi explained, clenching her fingers to keep them from combing Mamou's hair, perpetually in his face no matter how much he tried to fix them.
"Enough of this, you two! What is going on? I can't stand watching you two looking so sad at each other" Motoki interrupted, dashing out from behind the kitchen once he saw the two of them together.
You didn't tell him? Usagi communicated with her eyes, watching as Mamoru sighed and slightly shook his head, shoulders hunched even more if possible.
"Motoki-onee-san… Mamoru-san and I have decided to stop dating. But we still can be friends, right baka?" Usagi elbowed Mamoru in the ribs, and Mamoru stared at her unbelievably. Are we really doing this song and dance? Meanwhile, Motoki gaped at Usagi like a fish. She just announced her break up the way she would any other casual fact of her life. What is going on?
"I have to go, but I'll talk to you both later," Usagi added abruptly, feeling her ability to keep up this facade draining away at her energy. She just wanted to go home and cry. She waved politely, and walked out the parlor, feeling Mamoru's stare burning into the back of her head.
Once she was out of earshot, Motoki immediately ganged up on Mamoru.
"You need to fix this! You two were perfect for each other, she made you so happy and… not a robot! Mamoru, you're my best friend but I swear to god…" Motoki threatened, pinching his nose tight and trying not to get a migraine from thinking so hard about this situation.
"She should be with someone better for her…" Mamoru whispered, a singular digit circling around the rim of his coffee cup. "That person isn't me."
Motoki sighed. He knew this argument was not going to go anywhere. His best friend was stubborn and often refused that this was a problem he created for himself, not one that existed naturally.
"What if she picks someone worse? What are you going to do when you can't protect her?" Motoki asked, feeling slightly avenged at the freeze of Mamoru's shoulders. He clearly hadn't considered that part.
Baka…
