Chapter 8 – Doubt and denial

"I don't remember anything."

"I don't think. Don't tell me that you hadn't some flashbacks of our memories when you spoke him?"

"I did…"

"See? You remember him. You have him in your heart and that's why…we have to separate."

"But why?! I don't understand…"

"Ami…I can't be with you this way." said Urawa, looking very sad. "Right now, you aren't talking from the heart. Listen to her and you'll see that's not me who she wants." He tried to smile, but he only cracked a broken one.

"Urawa, I don't understand why do you have to react like this!" she replied with teary eyes.

"Ami, I love you, but I can't be with you. We can't change destiny."

With these final words, Urawa got farther from her, from the one he loved, leaving her behind. She understood him and the fact that anything she'll try to do would be in vain. He made his decision, a hard one, but he made it and now he was leaving. All she could do was to turn around, to turn her back to the image of him leaving her. On her way home, lost in her thoughts and with a sad face, didn't see the man who was approaching and bumped into him, almost falling if he didn't catch her on time.

"Tha…" she was about to say when she lifted her eyes to the man and her mouth didn't say anything more.

"It's not like you to not pay attention, Ami." said an amused voice, Taiki's voice. But his remark infuriated Ami who pulled herself out of his arms.

"I don't think you know me enough to know what's like me or not." She replied with a cold voice.

"It's something the matter?" he asked, worried by her tone.

"That's not any of your problem!"

"Did you have a fight with Urawa?"

"I said that's not any of your problem!!" she yelled with rage this time and passed by him and would've have succeeded if his hand hadn't stopped her.

"It's my problem and you know it very well!" he said to her in deep and sure tone.

"I don't know anything…" she muttered, looking nervously around. "I don't even want to know!" she suddenly raised her voice.

"Oh, yes, you know! And I hope you're aware that I won't give up on you." He said in a tender and assuring tone, then he let go of her hand and continued his way, leaving her with confusion and happiness in her soul.

*

She got home. She was alone, gratefully. So, she headed to her room, which left after a few minutes wrapped in a big and orange towel. With empty eyes, she entered the bathroom, after that in her bathing hut. After that, turned on the tap, water cold as ice gushing out. She let herself under the icy water, the ripping sound of the water on her body making it sound like she was whipped. But she didn't feel a thing. She couldn't feel anything except her pain and doubt of her soul. Her golden hair was now wet and stucked to her body, covering it in locks of wet hair. It seemed like it was trying to protect her from pain…but it was all in vain. She slipped down the bathing hut and wrapped herself with her hands, desperate. She was shaking, but she couldn't take herself out of there. Warm tears started to flow down with the pouring water. Her hand touched the lips, making her to remember. Their kiss…the rising love in her heart; the doubt suffocating it. She couldn't believe, she didn't want to believe! She has already someone who loves her and she couldn't betray his love. They were together in the past, but now they'll move forward. All that happened between them is past! She can't return to the past and definitely, she wouldn't allow them to love each other again…not now, not ever!

Her tears were continuously falling, knowing that her decision was ripping her soul apart, because now…she knows how much they loved each other. But she was always going forward, never to return again.

*

"Hello. Mark, is that you?"

"Yes, Mamoru. What you're doing?"

"Fine, thanks. Look, I've called to tell you something."

"Sure, what is it?"

"I got a phone call from the university."

"Oh! And? What do they want?" asked Mark, already suspecting what was Mamoru going to say.

"They want us to go back."

"WHAT?! Mamoru, but I can't! Not now!"

"Why not?" asked Mamoru surprised by his friend reaction. "We have to go back, it's about our project we initiated."

"I can't, Mamoru. I really can't."

"But why, for God's sake?!" asked again Mamoru, now worried by the desperate and yet firm tone of Mark.

"Well…I kinda had a fight with Minako…and that Yaten doesn't seem to me very trustworthy." He answered, his eyes sparkling with jealousy and anger.

"Ah…it's about this." Sighed Mamoru. "Look how it's it. If those two were about to have a couple, believe me, they have been from a long time. As what I heard from Usako, Yaten didn't want any connection with Minako the last time when they were here. I say that you should relax, there's nothing to worry. Trust Minako, like I trust Usako." He said with a reassuring voice.

"So…that brat didn't want to have anything with her?" said Mark with a thoughtful voice, but then asked surprised: "Why did you say to trust Minako, like you trust Usagi? Is something wrong?"

"To tell you the truth, I don't know." Answered Mamoru a little worried. "But one thing I know for sure. And that is Seiya's love for Usako."

"WHAT?!"asked shocked Mark. "Seiya, the one in red?!"

"Yes. The last time they were her, I was…gone for a while and he was beside her all the time, supported and spent time with her. And before he left, I could see his love for her in his eyes. But Usako didn't seem to notice it, therefore I hadn't given too much thought to it. But now they're back…and it's different. Trust me, I don't agree on leaving too but we have to do it."

"I'm sorry, Mamoru, but I'm not coming. I trust Minako, but not Yaten. And you shouldn't trust Seiya too."

"But, Mark, please! We have to go there. We won't be staying there long, in a few days we're back."

"No, I can't. I've found love, Mamoru. And I can't let it go now. I'm not going to lose it."

"Okay then." Sighed Mamoru. "I understand, I'll leave alone. I have the plane tomorrow at afternoon. Please, take care of Usako, if you stay."

"Of course, I'll have. Good night, Mamoru."

"Good night, Mark."

*

The next day, the girls, Mark and Mamoru were at the airport. Usagi and Mamoru were a little bit farther from the rest, talking:

"I thought you were staying longer this time." Said Usagi with a reproachful tone.

"Usako, gomen, but I have to go back. Trust me, I don't want to, but I must."

"I understand, Mamo-chan. I understand…" said Usagi while hugging him. She lifted her eyes to his. "You know…three years ago we parted like this too…"

"Usako, we'll never be parted, because we're united forever." Answered Mamoru, looking into her teary eyes. He bend to kiss her, not before Usagi to say:

"That's right, Mamo-chan."

They kissed with love in their souls and lips and soon after, Usagi pulled easily from his arms, because the plane was announced to leave after five minutes.

"Take care of you, Usako!" said Mamoru, heading to the gate. "I love you, Usako. Bye, minna!"

"Don't worry for me, Mamo-chan!" yelled Usagi after him, waving with tears flowing down to her cheeks. "Now Seiya's here, he'll protect me!" she added with naivety and with a smile.

But those words were worrying Mamoru more.

*

After Mamoru's leaving, the girls went to Usagi's house and Mark to his own. At Usagi, three of them were questioning Ami.

"Why did you two break up?" asked worried Rei.

"Is it because of Taiki?" said Minako in a harsh and down voice.

"How did you know?!" Ami looked in surprise to her friend.

"Ami…you can't even imagine." sighed Minako.

"Do you know something?" asked curious Usagi. "If so, tell us."

"No…not yet. Not yet." answered Minako in a strange voice and got up from the couch, heading to the exit.

"Minako, wait!" yelled after her Usagi and tried to go after her, but Rei stopped her.

"Give her time. She wants to be alone. She'll eventually share with us." she told to the blonde, looking worried herself. Usagi nodded and then turned to Ami.

"So…what's the deal between you and Taiki?"

"Aa…nothing." answered Ami, blushing.

"Nothing?! When Minako asked you if it is because of Taiki, you answered surprised how did she know, so don't try to lie to us. You're no good, Ami."

"Neither you, Usagi." said Rei teasingly.

"I'm not falling into your trap, Rei!" Usagi turned her back to her, missing the spark of proud in the eyes of her friend, who thought that, finally, her friend was maturing.

"Really, Ami…what happened between you and Urawa?" asked Mako, as she entered in the room with a fresh baked pie.

"Mako…" she looked up to her friend. "I'd prefer to talk first with Minako." she continued, looking now to her feet. "After I talk with her, I promise I'll tell everything."

"Ami… Be it how you want. But do know that you and Minako have friends and if you need us, we'll be right here. Tell her this too." Mako smiled to her, putting the pie in front of the slobber Usagi who took it almost immediately. Rei looked disappointed to her.

"Thanks, friends!" said Ami in a quiet voice with tears in her eyes. "I'll go after Minako now, if you don't mind." She added, already getting to the door.

"It's okay." said Rei in a kind voice. "We'll be waiting."

"Bye, bye!" Ami said and rushed through the door.

"I hope everything is alright." said Mako looking worried.

"It will be." assured her Usagi with mouth full of pie.

"I think they've started to behave so weird since the arrival of the Three Lights." said Rei suddenly, which made Usagi remember about the familiar warmth felt while hugging Seiya. This made her uneasy.

"By the way, it appears that their fans haven't easily forgotten about them." smiled Mako. "No sooner they arrived that they're having already concerts."

"Yes, so it seems." Agreed Rei with a smile. "They're having a concert tonight, don't they?"

"Yes, they'll be singing Nagareboshi ne, Todakanu Omoi; anyway, all the songs they created while they were looking after Kakyuu."

"Seiya has a concert tonight?!" asked suddenly Usagi, awoken from her thoughts concerning the warmth she felt beside Seiya.

"Yes, Usagi, You didn't know?"

"Nope. Will go, won't we?" she asked hopefully.

"I don't think we can; probably the tickets have already been sold out." Said wisely Rei.

"Nee, Rei…have you forgotten we're friends?" Usagi winked to her.

"Usagi! We can't take advantage of them." Rei reproved her and in the same time, changed her mind: "But…it wouldn't be such a bad idea. What is their number? I'll call them." she said with sparkling eyes.

"Why you?" pouted Usagi.

"Because it's better this way." Rei replied cheeky.

"Rei!!" yelled Usagi angry.

"That's enough. Don't start fighting. I'll call and that's it." said Mako cheerfully, quickly received fiery glances from her friends. But, in the end, they ended up pulling straws, with Usagi the winner.

"Hoorray!!" she yelled and made a funny face towards Rei which gave a her a cold glance.

"Go and make that phone call quick, otherwise we'll catch the end of the concert!"

"Yeah, yeah. By the way, should we ask for Minako and Ami too?"

"I don't think it's a good idea." said thoughtfully Mako. "Apparently, those two seem to have some kind of arguments with two of them."

"Yes, you're right." approved Usagi and without any other questions, went to the phone and dialed the number from the Three Lights studio.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Seiya! It's me, Usagi!"

"Odango!" said happy Seiya, delighted to hear her voice.

"Er...we'd like to ask you a favor." said Usagi in a shrugging voice.

"We? What kind of favor?" asked curiously the lead singer.

"We wanna come to your concert…but we don't have tickets." she answered, a little embarrassed.

"And you want me to get you some?" asked amused Seiya.

"Yes, if you'd like." she replied in a tiny tone.

"Of course." laughed Seiya. "For how many?" he asked, thinking of Mamoru.

"Just three."

"Three? But isn't all of you coming?" he asked utterly surprised.

"No, only me, Mako and Rei."

"But what about Minako and Ami? Mamoru? Aren't they coming?"

"Well…Minako and Ami had some business and left…and Mamoru…he's back in America." she ended with a sad voice.

"WHAT?!" Seiya yelled. "He's gone again??" he asked while clenching his fist.

"Yeah, but he'll be back soon. He had something to solve and beside, it's not like I'm worrying or something." she continued with a happy voice. "Cause now you're with me, no?" she added, smiling stupidly to the phone.

"That's right, Odango. I'll always be with you." Seiya replied, feeling more at ease when he heard her words. "Therefore, I'll see you at the concert! We'll be looking after you." he added happily.

"Thanks a lot, Seiya. See ya!"

"See ya!"