Minna!  Long time no see!  I just realized I messed up chapter 1. 
Ohh, and if you knew me you’d know that I hate making mistakes - the curse of being a 
perfectionist.  

Anyway, in chapter one, it’s been two years since Mamoru’s parents died, and yet when 
he explains to Usagi about his past he says that they died a few months ago!
Thank you to CeCe and Silver Bunny for the e-mail and pointing that one out, and sorry 
for the confusion!

Okay, thank you all for the wonderful e-mails!  Those are the things that make me a better 
writer, well other than actually writing - and sorry about that minna!  I’ve been writing 
this one in a wierd order!  I’m new to all this.

Disclaimer: Time to clean out my room!   Hey!  I might as well take inventory - maybe I’ll find the rights to Sailor Moon!
Okay, under the bed I have 
1)three stuffed animals (one is a bunny!) 
2)a stack of mangas (been looking for those, minna ^_~) and 
3)a pair of  neon yellow shoes I wore in middle school (*sweatdrop* - I guess it has been 
a long time!).
Darn! I was sure I’d find it _this_ time!  Oh well, I guess Naoko-chan, Dic, and all those 
other companies still own the rights.  But hey! Maybe I’ll find it next time! 


Title: Crossing Paths
Chapter 2:  Crash
Author: Yuubou-san
E-mail: yuubou_san@yahoo.com
Rating: G
 
 	The years passed.  Unbeknownst to them, Usagi and Mamoru continued to have 
contact with each other.  Often they would choose the same seat the other had just 
vacated in a movie theater or restaurant.  Walking the street with their eyes down, they 
would brush sides while passing each other, and continue on their way.  They both 
enjoyed the park, and sometimes while walking the forest, they would cross a path their 
love had just tred.  They continue having this sort of contact for ten years.

	For instance, one time, when Mamoru was 13, and Usagi 8, they both went to a 
nearby carnival.  Mamoru won a pink frisbee and a couple stuffed animals at a game 
where you had to pop ballons with darts and have the darts land in the bullseye to win 
prizes.  He however, at one point, put down his prizes and lost them.  It wasn't a big deal 
to him, but to the little blond bunny who tripped on them, it was.  Because no one 
claimed them, the pink frisbee and the stuffed animals were given to her.  The frisbee was 
her first, and she promptly had her father teach her how to throw.  This was how she 
discovered her natural affinity for the ultimate frisbee game, which later on made it 
possible for her to be one of the best discus throwers in her age group in her country.  In 
this way, Mamoru and Usagi continued to affect the lives of each other, even though they 
never had direct contact. 

	Life for Usagi and Mamoru continued on this fashion, each just barely missing the 
other in every day little ways.  Nephlite would say the reason was that the stars were not 
yet quite alighned for a meeting, but these chance encounters became closer and closer, as 
the stars moved into position.  It took ten years after their last meeting at the hospital for 
them to actually meet face to face.  Needless to say, all the karma built up over the years 
led to an explosive beginning.

*~*~*~*~*~*

	"Just five more, minutes!" Usagi moaned as her mother tried to wake her.

	"Usagi, you're going to be late for school!  I know you hate this, but you've left me 
no choice!" Ikuko warned her oblivious daughter before she violently tore the sheets away 
from Usagi's bed.  Usagi's small form began to shiver, and her teeth chatter in reaction to 
the cold mornging air.   a frustrated Ikuko thought to herself.

	"Get up Usagi or I'll get Shingo to wake you!" Ikuko threatened.

	Shingo's ears perked up and in a flash he was at Usagi's room with an ice cold 
glass of water and a devilish smile on his face.  "Ohh Usa-baka!  Hehehe" he began to 
laugh evilly.

	Usagi finallyawoke at this.  "Shingo!  GET OUT OF MY ROOM! I DON'T 
KNOW WHAT YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO DO BUT. . ."  Usagi's eyes 
saw the clock at this and she forgot her train of thought.  

	"OHH KAMI-SAMA!  I'M GOING TO BE SO LATE! WHY DIDN'T ANYONE 
WAKE ME UP!"  

	Usagi, as usual ran around her like a tornado, leaving a path of destruction in her 
wake.  She grabbed a piece of toast from the hands of Shingo (who yelled at her, 
annoyed) and ran out the door. 

	Usagi ran to the school, and finally arrived at the outside of Haruna-sensai's 
classroom (Is that her Japanese name?) huffing with no breath.  She tried to sneak inside, 
after catching her breath, but Miss Haruna caught her, but didn't give her detention.  
Usagi brightened as she thought 

	Haruna-sensai made an announcement that today would be a free study period, to 
which the whole class hoorayed.  After a few minutes, Haruna-sensai was called to the 
office for a phone call.    Apparently, her 
boyfriend canceled, because when she returned she was steaming and had a huge stack of 
papers in her hand.  She shouted at the students, "POP QUIZ TIME!  CLEAR YOUR 
DESKS!  I REALLY HOPE YOU ALL DID YOUR MATH HOMEWORK!"  She 
looked at Usagi disapprovingly, who shrank back in her seat.

	 Usagi sweatdropped.

	Needless to say, Usagi got a 30% on the quiz.  After detention (she got caught 
eating in class again,) she was walking home on the verge of tears.  She decided she'd 
relax first at the arcade before she faced the wrath of her mother.  How was she to explain 
this grade to her mom?  Exasperated, she crumpled up the piece of paper and chucked it 
behind her.

	BOINK!

	It had hit the head of one Chiba Mamoru.  He angrily snapped his head up and 
yelled out the first thing that had come into his head.  

	"WATCH IT ODANGO ATAMA!"

	Usagi swiveled about and yelled, "WHAT DID YOU CALL ME, JERK!"

	Mamoru ignored her and looked at the paper instead.  A bright red "30%" caught 
his eye.  "A thirty?  Nice going, genius."

	"WHO ASKED YOU?  JERK!"  Usagi tore the paper from his hands and flew off, 
but not before he noticed the name, Tsukino Usagi, on the top of the page.

	

	 Mamoru reflected, before continuing on his way to the arcade to 
get his usual cup of coffee.

	Usagi, in her rage, had mistakenly stalked off in the wrong direction.  She was too 
proud to turn around and face him, so she decided to take the long way to the arcade. 
	
*~*~*~*~*~*

Mamoru took his usual seat at the counter, and Motoki faithfully served him one 
cup of coffee, black.  After a couple minutes, Mamoru heard the arcade doors swing open 
and someone come in.

Motoki was looking past Mamoru to his new customer, and greeted her 
cheerfully, "Hey Usagi-chan!"  Mamoru's head bolted up, and he slowly turned around as 
Motoki continued, "Oh, come meet my best friend, Chiba Mamoru."

Usagi noticed the man with raven hair, who was stiffly turning toward her.  When 
she realized it was the same gentleman from before she politely greeted him by saying, 
"YOU!  Motoki, you're friends with this baka?  I thought you had taste!"

Motoki looked at Mamoru puzzled.  Mamoru replied readily, "Odango Atama, if 
any one's a baka it's you, Miss Thirty Percent!"

Usagi glared back at him.  Her face became red with anger and she began to 
clench her fists as she replied, "Oooooh,  you make me so mad!  My name is USAGI!  U-
S-A-G-I! So don't call me that!  And I'm not a baka!"

"Whatever you say, Odango."

Usagi threw her hands up and stalked away from the counter toward the new 
Sailor V game.  Mamoru simply chuckled while Motoki continued to look puzzled.

Usagi and Mamoru's relationship obviously didn't get off on the right foot this 
time, and the mood of animosity continued on like this during the rest of the school year 
of Usagi's last year of middle school (8th grade) and Mamoru's last year of high school.  
 
     @     @
  / /   ^_^   \ \

    Source: geocities.com/im_a_good_girl_uk_2000