Chapter 3: Neighbor

"Mamo-chan…"

They stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Usagi could feel her heart pound against her chest while the blood rushed to her head. All coherent thoughts were flying out the window as she stood there like a deer caught in headlights. She felt electricity go through her body the moment he caught her arm and she knew it had to be because of their bond. He must've felt it too.

Her body shifted up straight and she retracted her arm from him immediately reality hit her. Her eyes narrowed at the thought that the girls knew he lived here and yet they still brought her here. She would have a word with them later about their manipulation. Inwardly she wanted to burst with joy, but at the same time, she couldn't. He wasn't the same Mamoru she knew before, he was a stranger.

"Did you just say something?" he asked her while his hand dropped to his side. He had the look of utter confusion, the same look he gave her when he got his star seed back and couldn't recognize her. His eyebrows furrowed as he intently looked at her.

"Oh, uh…no, nothing," she laughed nervously, picking up the box again.

"Hmm, I don't think that's a good idea for you to pick up such a heavy box. We wouldn't want you to trip again, now would we?" he chuckled as he took the box from her hand and brought it in. He took a good look around the living room and whistled, "wow….you really love the color pink."

Usagi blushed and responded, "Yeah, I do. Do you think it's too much?"

Mamoru shrugged his shoulders and turned around. He took in her appearance and it made him feel something he couldn't quite understand. She was attractive and beautiful, sure, but there was something else. He tried to push the thought away and replied, "I don't think it really matters. It's what you like, so decorate with as much pink as you want."

Then there was another pause of silence between them. Usagi didn't know what to say to him anymore. She was so used to running up to him and hugging him, latching onto him that the distance between them felt strange. He cleared his throat and stepped out of her apartment. He didn't want her to think he was a creep who was making himself comfortable without her consent. "Is it odd for me to think that I've seen you somewhere? You look familiar."

Usagi became stiff. Did he remember? She bit her lower lip contemplating what she should respond with. She couldn't just be like, "Hey! Yeah, I'm your long lost lover who you forgot and got a new girlfriend. By the way, we are destined to be and we are supposed to have a baby soon!" It was so awkward to stand there and not know what to say. She wished she could tell him the truth, but he would think she was insane. Thankfully all the photos she had of them together were still in boxes, even the ones he used to have.

"Oh yeah…you're Motoki's friend, right? I remember seeing you at the arcade briefly before you left. It's rude of me to not introduce myself, but my name is Mamoru and I'm the neighbor right across from you."

That huge sinking feeling in her chest returned. Why couldn't he just remember her? Did he feel anything? She just wanted to ask him what was wrong and why he blocked her out. She knew it wasn't his fault…not consciously.

"Uhm, yeah, I am. Usagi Tsukino, it's a pleasure to meet you. Would you like to come in for a bit? I know I don't have much at the moment, but I have snacks," she smiled softly, pointing inside her empty apartment. She was hoping he would say yes and that in a way it would give her a second chance.

He hesitated for a moment. Would it be wise to go into this girl's apartment? He hardly knew her, yet something about her presence didn't seem to bother him at all. He crossed his arms over his chest and approved, "I guess it couldn't hurt to have some snacks. Please don't poison me, that's all I ask," he teased as he walked back in.

Usagi narrowed her eyes and huffed. Some things didn't change. It was like when they first met and he would tease her nonstop. At least there was something about him behaviourally that wasn't different. She walked in and closed the door behind her then prepped some tea and took out a few rabbit shaped cookies, placing them on the plate. She took them out and placed them on her dining table. She took a seat back and sipped at her tea, taking in all his features. She remembered her recent dream with the Prince and how comfortable they were together. It was a shame that he didn't even know his importance in this world and who he was. "So, uhm, tell me about yourself?"

"I'm 26 years old and I'm a doctor at the Juuban Hospital. I'm not sure if there's more than that to say. I'm kind of a boring guy," he replied, a small smile tugging at his lips. "And you? Whose the lucky guy?" he asked, eyeing the heart-shaped ring on her finger.

She almost spat out of her tea, forgetting that she even had the jewellery on. She cleared her throat and nervously fumbled with her fingers, casting her gaze downwards. She stroked the large pink gem and then trailed the diamonds on the sides of the heart. "There is no lucky guy…" she softly replied.

Mamoru raised an eyebrow in question. It was odd to wear a ring on your ring finger for just the sake of it. "Isn't that strange? To wear a ring on that finger just 'cause?" he bluntly pushed, not masking his sense of curiosity.

Usagi looked up again and gave him a stern look. She was kind of offended by his insensitivity. So what if she did? It wasn't a big deal. He didn't know her story. She narrowed her eyes, "I'm not wearing it just cause…he is no longer in my life. He lost his memories. He doesn't even know who I am anymore…"

He remained silent for a few seconds before he apologized. "Sorry…I didn't know. If I sounded like an ass, I apologize."

"It's fine," she brushed it off nonchalantly, "what about you? I saw you with this girl at the arcade," she pried, trying not to sound too desperate for information. She was hoping that the girl would just be a friend, but what kind of a guy wraps their arm around a girl's waist who happens to "just be a friend"?

It was only fair he answered her, despite how much he didn't like talking about relationships. It was highly personal to him, but after what he just pulled with her, being as insensitive as he was, she deserved some sort of response. No, he felt compelled to give her an answer. "I am seeing someone, but it's nothing serious. She's the office administrator at the hospital and that's how we met. I doubt it will last, but I hadn't dated anyone in years."

It was like he gave her good and bad news. The good news was that it wasn't serious. The bad news was that he was still seeing someone who wasn't her. "I see…" she mumbled. To outwardly show her disappointment would be embarrassing so she kept a fake smile plastered on her face. "Well…it's getting late and I've got some errands to run," she stated in hopes to kick him out.

Mamoru was shocked by their short encounter. He probably pushed the wrong buttons and killed the mood of their conversation. He felt a little guilty, knowing full well that it was his fault. "Yeah, I'll catch you around neighbor."

OoooOooo

Over the next couple of weeks, Mamoru and Usagi reignited their ritual of constantly running into each other, whether it was on their floor, the laundry room or the elevator, each experience was different. Mamoru started teasing Usagi again about her clumsiness when she dropped her hamper of clean laundry clothes and would make remarks about how she always ran into him. He began to notice her more and more as a woman with every moment they spent together or ran into each other. He always felt something run through him whenever she was around even during the times she wasn't in his vicinity. It was odd that he could always figure out when she was home or not. 'What is it about her?' he'd ask himself over and over again. The girl was such a mystery to him. 'There's no way you could feel something for her, is there? You just met her two weeks ago…'

His self rationalization was interrupted when he heard her apartment door shut, indicating that she was back from work. He sighed as he put on his jacket and made his way to work for his night shift.

OoooOooo

"EH?!"

"Usagi! Stop screaming into the phone!" Rei yelled into her cellphone. She was so tempted to hang up until her friend calmed down. She held the phone away from her ear until the screeching stopped. The priestess pulled the phone back against her ear and continued, "Yes, it's true. Seiya and the others are back but they are just here on a visiting basis. I don't know if you're uncomfortable about it, but I kind of gave him your address. You should be expecting him soon, sorry. I kind of forgot to give you a call after I spoke to him."

"It's okay, I haven't seen him in years. I guess I should get this place cleaned up…." Then there was a faint knocking at her door, "nevermind. I guess he's here. Thanks for heads up," Usagi sarcastically remarked before she hung up the phone.

Usagi made her way over to the door and looked through the peep-hole to see no other than the long raven haired man who was once a part of the pop group "Three Lights". He was someone who she would never look twice at and now he had become an important part of her life. He helped her forget about her pain when Mamoru didn't respond to her letters and always tried to cheer her up. She swung the door open and ambushed the star into a tight hug, "Seiya!" she looked up at him with the brightest smile on her face, refusing to let go. "Welcome back!"

"Oi! Odango!" Seiya stumbled, trying to hold him and Usagi up from giving into the ground. He laughed at her excitement and patted her on the head, "oh…what happened to your hair?"

Usagi pulled him into her apartment in fear that Mamoru would be home and may hear the commotion. She took a seat in the living room and shrugged her shoulders, "It was time for a change."

Seiya wasn't buying it. It just sounded like a cover up. The girl he knew loved her hairstyle and would never put her hair down for any particular reason unless she had to. Seiya left right after the battle with Galaxia, so he wasn't around to see what happened between her and Mamoru, but he assumed, since she was on her own that something was wrong. "Is it because of him?" Seiya asked, his eyes narrowing.

"He lost his memories…" she whispered, "the last time I saw him as my Mamoru was at the airport five years ago before I even met you or knew of Galaxia. Do you know what the worst part is? He lives across from me."

Seiya was about to open his mouth and comment before Usagi went on, "it was the girls' idea. I didn't know." He shut his mouth again. The topic itself was depressing and he wanted to cheer her up. He looked around the living room and found her karaoke box. "You know what we haven't done in a long time? Sing. Let's sing!"

Usagi's cheeks flushed with red while she tried to decline singing. She sounded terrible and it would be such an embarrassment. She tried to shove off the microphone that Seiya was offering her, but his persistence was something she couldn't beat, just like when they went to the amusement park. "Fine!" she exasperated, giving into him.

They sang until their throats went hoarse, stopping at 1:00 in the morning. Hopefully there were no noise complaints, but his plan was effective in cheering her up. When she sat down down to take a break, Seiya came up behind her and slowly started to entwine his fingers in her hair. He missed her so much and despite all the years that passed, he still loved her. He could never understand why she always chose Mamoru, especially after everything that happened, but he wanted to win her over and show her that she didn't need someone like him anymore.

"Seiya, what are you doing?"

He kept quiet for a little bit before his fingers began to ball her hair up into two sections on her head. He liked her hairstyle and he wanted her to remember that she was his odango. "You know, Odango, don't feel that you need to change yourself. You're a strong woman, I know it. Anything meant to happen will fall into place, so please don't ever feel the need to blame yourself," he whispered as he tied the odangos in place. He patted her on the head one last time before he stood up and looked at the time, "It's getting late. Yaten and Taiki are probably wondering why I'm not back yet."

Usagi nodded, a sudden loneliness beginning to form in the pit of her stomach. She had forgotten how much fun it was to have Seiya around and how distracting he was from all her problems. She walked him to the door and smiled sadly, "Have a goodnight Seiya."

"Oi! Smile like you mean it! I don't want to see that expression on your face," he scolded, crossing his arms over his chest. "I won't be going anywhere for a while. I'll even take you to the amusement park, okay? Just don't be sad Odango. I'll always be here for you," he smiled as he bent over, causing her face to tint pink at their proximity and placed a kiss on her cheek.

At that very moment, Mamoru got out of the elevator and watched them. Something inside of him churned and he felt something that he hadn't felt in a long time – jealousy.