Disclaimer: On to the next chapter. I fixed the name changes in the previous chapter. Updates are not going to be every day. I'll update when I can.

_3_

"Sex."

Ami and Rei deadpan and turn to look at Usagi with horror-stricken faces. Dear God.

Surely, she isn't considering it.

Did she already do it?!

There were too many panicked thoughts going through their minds.

Usagi however sits innocently across from them staring at her plate of food curiously.

"What about it?" Rei asks slowly. She's mentally bracing herself.

"I know we've had classes discussing protection but none of those classes really discuss the act itself."

"Are you asking us for the sex talk, Usagi?" Ami can feel a sweat drop forming at her brow. This couldn't be happening. Sure, her own mother is a doctor and there were plenty of these conversations with her, but that was a conversation for them.

"I suppose I am."

"I'm too sober for this." Rei mutters to nobody in particular. "Ask your mother."

"She'll get the wrong idea!" Usagi whines, leaning forward on the table with her fingers interlocked.

"We have the wrong idea!" Rei hisses back at her, glaring. Ami studies Usagi for a moment and watches the exchange, less horrified now.

"I think she just wants information. Right?"

"Yes! I want to be able to tell Mamoru when I'm ready and I don't exactly want to come off like I don't know what I'm talking about or what all there is to consider."

Rei rolls her eyes and looks at Ami expectantly, "Are you explaining this to her?"

"So two people normally have to be in a particular mood before they, do the thing." Ami begins hesitantly as she considers her explanation.

"I'm going to call Jadeite and see what he's up to." Rei stands and pulls out some cash to pay for her food and before waving bye and leaving the two to talk.

The two women sit in the Crown Arcade at their usual booth by the window. They haven't seen each other in so long. The blonde wasn't sure if the raven-haired beauty would want to patch up their friendship after so long. She felt like she had to try while she was in town.

Rei sat with her legs crossed, stirring her cup of coffee and avoiding eye contact. She hadn't seen Usagi, and this felt somewhat awkward. She didn't have previous plans when Usagi texted her, granted she was excited to see her.

Usagi swallows the lump in her throat from the nerves. Ami was easygoing and they could pick up their friendship without fail. She isn't sure if Rei would be the same. It also isn't just that she wanted to see her and patch up their friendship, she has questions. Rei was always in tune with the spirits and often worked at her grandpa's shrine when they were teenagers. She had to have insight on the memories she worked so hard to repress.

"How have you been?" Rei finally asks snapping out of her quiet spell.

"Good, life is definitely different not living here anymore. How are you?" Usagi responds slowly, very aware that Rei could also snap at her for not staying in contact.

"Good here. Jadeite and I are still together. I'm sure Ami told you that I'm getting married, right?"

"She did. Are you excited?"

Rei smiles warmly, "I am. We don't want anything extravagant. We want cozy and intimate."

Usagi nods remembering when she used to want to be married and have a family of her own. Those dreams seem so far off now that she's been career focused.

"I am so happy for you." Usagi says pulling her milkshake closer and sipping through the straw. "Have you picked out your wedding party?"

"Yeah, Jadeite is still confirming a few. Anyway, less about that. Are you seeing anyone?" Rei says quizzically as she eyes Usagi.

"No, there was a date before I came home but I don't know if he's been busy or not interested."

"Screw him. Don't think about him for another minute."

"True. I wanted to talk to you about something."

Rei sits a bit straighter in her seat, "What's up?"

"I've been daydreaming about the past lately."

Rei purses her lips tightly together, waiting for Usagi to finish this little tale of hers.

"Memories of the past involving Mamoru. I know you're spiritual and I just wanted your perspective. Is it because I came home, and this is where it began and ended?"

Rei had a feeling that Mamoru would be a subject before she walked in the Arcade this evening. What advice could she offer Usagi about the man? She still barely knows him. He's friends with Jadeite and Zoicite but they don't hang out. She sighs and pushes her cup of coffee away from her. "I don't know what to tell you, Usagi."

"Reeeeiiiii!" Usagi whines with a familiar childishness to her voice.

"You've been far removed from here, so it is possible now that you've come back, your brain is dredging up memories. Your subconscious is helping. Have you considered you might miss what you had with Mamoru?"

Usagi scrunches her face at the thought. She couldn't possibly miss him. After how he talked to her, there has never been a second thought whether she acted right or not. They did spend a lot of time together. At the time, she thought what they had was perfect. She believed that he was her happy ending, so to speak. She didn't believe she'd end up single and attempting to date with little to no success.

She's been on several dates in the last year but none of them were interesting or stable enough that she wanted to see them beyond a first or second date. One had the gall to ask if she thought it would be okay to piss in their cup while watching a movie in the theatre. She remembers it like it was yesterday.

"Will you forgive him eventually, Usagi?"

"I don't think so."

"We were kids. I'm sure he has regrets." Rei says trying to reason with her.

"He never tried to apologize back then when it counted." Usagi counters shrugging her shoulders. It is because he never apologized back then that she never felt anything akin to romantic feelings for anyone. If they all act like Mamoru, why should she want feelings for someone else?

Huffing and crossing her arms, Rei leans forward, "Tough. Listen to me, Usagi. Hear the man out because my wedding is planned you are part of the wedding party and so is he. I'm not going to allow either of you or both of you to ruin this for Jadeite and me."

"Wait, what?!" Usagi hisses slouching in her chair. "Rei! Rei, how can you put both of us in your wedding party?"

"I'm serious, Usagi. You two better talk and get it together." Rei says once more. Usagi swears she sees the corner of Rei's eye twitch.

Floored by the revelation and stunned by the tone that Rei is taking with her, she sits silently. I'm going to be forced to be around this knucklehead. I can't believe it. Rei might actually kill me if I even think about saying something wrong to him. I can't believe my luck.

"Tomorrow night, 6:00 pm at that Italian restaurant by the bank across from the park. We're meeting there to introduce everyone. You'll get to meet to Minako. She actually looks like you in some regard but a complete ditz sometimes. We love her all the same."

"My dad comes home tomorrow morning."

"Ikuko can take care of him. She knew about this get together before you got here."

"Did you all plot to get me to come back home?" Usagi eyes her closely considering the timeframe that everything is happening, it sounds too good to be true.

"She told me you were coming in and I told her it was perfect timing despite Kenji's health woes. I'm glad he's coming home."

"Thank you."

"How was the milkshake, Usa?"

The girls look up and see Motoki running his fingers through his hair. He looks rough, Usagi notes.

"Great as always, Motoki." She assures him with a warm smile.

"After all these years, I haven't lost my touch." He says proudly. "Rei, how is the coffee?"

"Still the best in town." She responds with a thumbs up. "How is your sister?"

"Recovering from the flu. She'll be back in here with those damned skates in no time." He says with a slight frown, his mood changing. They all thought his sister was adorable skating around the Arcade serving everyone. Motoki on the other hand always cringed and swore she'd be the death of him.

"You haven't hidden them yet?"

"She looked so darn pathetic when she caught me trying." He admits sheepishly. "She begged and got all teary eyed. Anyway, I'll let you two catch up." He winks at them before walking off to other people who just walked inside.

"Remember Usa, don't fuck up my wedding because you're mad at Mamoru." Rei warns her once more.

"What language." Usagi teases.

Rei glowers at her.

The vehicle door opens and Kenji steps out slowly in the driveway.

Usagi stands at the front door watching her father with relief. He's moving slowly but it is better than being in a hospital bed.

"I can walk just fine."

"I know you can but please be careful dearest." Ikuko says with worry lacing her words as she walks behind her husband after closing the passenger door. She shakes her head, full of concern for his wellbeing.

"Always chewing my ass out." He mutters. He smiles when he sees Usagi waiting to greet him at the door. "Good morning, Usa."

"Good morning papa. How are you feeling?" She opens her arms and hugs him as if she'd never see him again. Truthfully, she doesn't know if he'll fully recover despite what the doctors say.

"I feel fine. Doctors advised that I get plenty of rest and start taking walks to up my exercise."

"No more hamburgers or late-night snacks." Ikuko says reminding him of the other instructions that were given. She walks past the two of them and hurries into the kitchen to prepare a light breakfast.

Kenji grumbles under his breath and playfully rolls his eyes as he and Usagi walk inside.

"Have you been able to see your friends?" He asks as he removes his shoes and walks slightly ahead of Usagi who closes the door behind them and removes her own shoes.

"Rei is getting married and she told me I'm in her wedding party."

"That is fantastic news." Kenji tells her as they take seats at the kitchen table.

"I am so happy for them." Ikuko joins the conversation as she breaks some eggshells and empties them into the frying pan. "Now if only Usagi could meet someone."

And there it is.

She'd been at home for a few days already and she was silently wondering when her mother would bring up her love life. Kenji stopped asking if she planned to get married a long time ago and just enjoyed having her around. After all, he knows he only gets one Usagi. Ikuko, not so much. Usagi enjoyed her time alone and not having to share her home away from home with anyone else. She wasn't sure she felt a pang of loneliness. She also believes her mother just wants grandkids someday and she isn't sure Shingo is going settle for one woman.

She looks at her father who nods with a chuckle. She wasn't sure she wanted him to get riled up and cause him more health problems. She couldn't live with herself if that happened.

"I am happy with my life as it is."

"I'm sure, but don't you remember when you wanted a family?"

Who could forget she wanted a family of her own someday. Not everyone meets someone and makes it to a happy ending. She isn't naive.

"I was a teenager. I'm not anymore and I do well enough on my own that if I want kids, I can afford a sperm donor or adoption."

Ikuko looks up from the frying pan and opens her mouth expecting words to come out but nothing does and so she continues cooking in silence. She sighs in defeat, losing the battle isn't so bad this time.

"I think your mother is more worried about you being alone rather than grandchildren." Kenji states hoping he's clarified his wife's meaning.

"I don't feel alone even if I live alone." Usagi explains to her parents in hopes they understand. "I've been on dates. It isn't like I haven't given anyone a chance. They don't interest me."

Kenji stretches his arms overhead and leans back in his chair and looks out the window noticing a car pull into their driveway. "Did we invite anyone over?" He asks looking between Usagi and Ikuko.

Usagi stands and peeps out the window, also not recognizing the black sedan but assures her parents she'll handle whoever it is and rushes to the hall and slips into some shoes and opens the door.

"Ack!" She gasps realizing too late that their visitor is none other than Mamoru Chiba. He stands halfway across from his car to their front door, frozen mid step, eyes widening. Did he think she wouldn't be home? This is her family after all, and he doesn't live nearby. This drive is completely out of his way.

"Usagi." He says finding her name on the tip of his tongue.

"I don't even want to know why you're here." She states firmly rolling her eyes. "Listen, tonight we both have to be present for Rei and Jadeite. Rei already threatened to put me 6 feet under if we ruin her wedding. I'm certain she will do it. So don't try to start a conversation with me that I don't want to have. Keep it short and I'll keep it cordial."

She watches as his posture changes a bit and listens as he clicks his tongue against his teeth before his eyes darken. Oh, this is new.

"You think I came here to talk to you? I hadn't realized the years burdened you with an ego the size of Russia, but don't sweat it. I got the message loud and clear." Mamoru reaches into his pants pocket, and she watches as he pulls out a device and extends his arm out toward her. "Your father forgot his phone and I wanted to make sure it was returned safely. I'll leave that to you though."

Fuck.

She feels her cheeks burning and palms begin to sweat. There is really only one good word to describe this situation. She knows it is a situation of her own creation and this is horrible. She slowly reaches out and takes the device from Mamoru. "I'll make sure he gets it. Thank you."

"Sure." He states dryly and returns to his vehicle without another word.

She doesn't watch as he backs out of the driveway, instead she turns and hurries back inside to the kitchen. She's not completely sure her parents weren't watching through that damned window. When she returns, she finds Ikuko serving Kenji a plate of eggs, apple slices and wheat toast with a few other foods she isn't familiar with.

"What did Mamoru want dear?" She asks as she takes her own seat next to Kenji.

"Papa forgot his phone at the hospital. He wanted to return it to him." She tells them as she puts the phone on the table and sits as well.

"He looked rather stricken." Ikuko comments, glancing up at Usagi briefly. "You wouldn't happen to know why, would you?"

She looks at the plate of food setting on the table in front of her as her stomach growls impatiently. Usagi isn't a happy person when she doesn't eat. She is the definition of 'hangry'. This inquisition that Ikuko is planning to initiate is ruining her appetite. Of course, she knows why he looked stricken and couldn't wait to leave.

"I don't know. I bet it was a rough night shift at the hospital."

"Usagi, if you've been mean to him-"

Usagi stands abruptly which causes her mother to stop talking. What more must Usagi do? She looks at both of them sternly. "I dumped him because he was mean to me. I ignored him because he was mean to me. I wasn't mean to him. I stood up for myself and you're blaming me for my relationship ending?" She states, emphasizing the words as she speaks.

"Why didn't you tell us?"

"He worked for papa! He thought so highly of him. Mamoru's parents are deceased, and I just couldn't stand it if you treated him differently."

"Usagi, you're our daughter. Our job was to protect you. I wish we could have discussed this then. He was one of my best workers, but I wouldn't have treated him differently at work." Kenji explains gently.

She looks down at her feet and then slowly slides back into the chair, refusing to meet their eyes. This wasn't supposed to happen the first day her father was back home. She didn't want him to get any sicker. She reaches for her fork and begins to eat.

Ikuko looks over to Kenji and smiles before returning to her own food.