Choices

Seventeen-year-old Tsukino Usagi sat staring at her star shaped locket, the tinkling music causing tears in her eyes. How on Earth could she ever choose between the two men she loved? Destiny said that she would marry Chiba Mamoru, former prince of the Earth, her protector. Even his name, Mamoru, means protector.

"Mamo-chan," she whispers as a tear rolls down her cheek.

He could hear her whispering her pet name for him. Chiba Mamoru sat at his computer trying to do his homework. This was his last year of college, and he had planned on proposing to his long time girlfriend soon. They could have been so happy together if Seiya had never shown up. Who would have thought that over so many centuries, Usagi would question their love? Usagi, the moon light rabbit, Usako to Mamoru, was once the princess of the moon. He, the prince of the Earth, was going to marry the princess. They were tragically killed before the wedding; however, they were reincarnated and met again in this life. They met, and once again fell in love. The computer screen went blank from lack of use.

"Usako, I love you," he said into the blackness.

Usagi needed help. She just couldn't make this decision on her own.

" Makoto!" she yelled.

Makoto, also known as Mako, was Usagi's best friend. Her name means truth, and it is a good indication of her personality. Makoto, although it sometimes hurts, always tells the truth. Usagi picked up the receiver and dialed.

" Hello?" answered Mako.

" Oh! Mako-chan, you've got to help me! My life is a complete mess!"

" Calm down Usagi! Now, just tell me what's wrong," said a calm Makoto.

" I just can't decide! I love them both! How do I chose between them?" whined Usagi.

" What? Love whom? Usagi, start at the beginning and tell me what happened."

" Well it started about six months ago. When Seiya came to our school, I never thought I'd fall in love with him…"

It was the first day back to school after the winter break. Usagi and Mako were late for school again. They separated, and Usagi ran toward her class. As she rounded the corner, she crashed into someone and fell backward.

" Oh, that hurt! Why don't you watch where you are going you jerk!" screamed Usagi.

" I'm sorry Odango Atama. Are you hurt?" asked the man she had run into.

Usagi looked the man over. He wasn't too tall, only 5'11''. He had long black hair that was pulled neatly back into a ponytail at the base of his neck. His blue eyes were smiling down at her.

" Odango Atama…meatball head?" thought Usagi. " No! My name is Tsukino Usagi, not Odango Atama!" she yelled.

The boy eyed Usagi critically. Odango Atama was a fitting name for her. She had a set of balls on each side of her golden head. Each ball had a long blond pigtail streaming out that almost touched the floor. She was about 5'7'', and she had sparkling blue eyes.

" You are cute. Ja ne, Odango Atama!" the boy said teasingly.

" Good-bye? Wait where is he going? Who is he?" Usagi thought. " My name is not Odango Atama!" she called after him.

The boy smiled to himself as he walked away. As Usagi started after the boy, the bell rang announcing that she was late for class. The teacher called Usagi's name just as she slipped into her chair.

" Now class, I'd like to introduce some new students," said Ms. Haruna as three young men walked into the room. " These," she said, " are Kou Seiya, Yaten, and Taiki. I expect you to make them all feel welcome here. Please take a seat boys."

Seiya took the seat behind Usagi.

" Mind if I sit here Odango Atama?"

" You! Yes I mind, and my name is Usagi!"

" No, it's still Odango Atama."

Usagi was starting to fall asleep when the lunch bell rang. She ran outside to a figure sitting under a tree.

" Mako-chan! You wouldn't believe the day I've had! This guy I ran into keeps calling me…"

Usagi didn't get to finish her sentence.

" Hey! Odango Atama!"

Makoto got a strange far away look in her eyes.

" Not you again!" said Usagi disgustedly.

" Odango, would you mind if my brothers and I join you for lunch?"

" Yes…"

" No! You can eat with us if you want!" Interrupted Mako.

" Mako-chan! What are you doing?" asked Usagi.

" He looks just like my old boyfriend," whispered Mako.

" No he doesn't! Actually, he looks kind of like Mamo-chan."

The boys sat down and ate lunch with the girls. Seiya flirted with Usagi insatiably. Who would have thought that the one Usagi found so annoying, was also someone she'd fall in love with?

" That first time we met was only the beginning of it. We started spending time together, and I started to like him, even his pet name for me! I never thought I'd love someone other than Mamo-chan, but Seiya grew into my heart," Usagi told Mako.

" Does Mamoru-chan know about Seiya?" asked Mako.

" Yeah, I remember every detail of that night. Seiya was coming over to pick me up for a date. It was only last week…"

There was a knock at the door. Usagi ran down stairs toward the door, but she tripped and fell into the man who had just walked in.

" Hi Odango. Are you happy to see me?" asked the man holding Usagi in the open doorway.

" Seiya, I'm sorry! I'm such a klutz!"

Seiya looked deep in Usagi's blue eyes. Usagi was staring up at Seiya and smiling. She got such a wonderful feeling when she was Seiya. Usagi just couldn't place how she felt about him.

" She's so beautiful," Seiya thought.

He slowly leaned over to kiss her. Her eyes closed, and she slowly moved toward him.

" What am I doing? What about Mamo-chan? Could it be that I really love Seiya?" she thought as their lips met.

"Usako?" asked a new voice.

Usagi and Seiya parted and turned to see a stricken Mamoru and a dozen roses on the ground. Seiya pulled Usagi in close.

" Mamo-chan…" Usagi whispered.

" Usako, what are you doing? Who is this?"

" Mamo-chan, this is Seiya. He… I…"

" I can see what is going on Usako. When you are ready to discuss this, call me," Mamoru said as he calmly walked away.

" Odango, what's going on? Who was that?" asked Seiya.

" He's my boyfriend…"

" Boyfriend? You have a…a boyfriend?"

" Yes, but… oh!" Usagi was flustered.

" Odango, I love you, but I can not be the cause of another man's pain. You must choose between us."

" But I care for you both!" anguished Usagi.

" I'm sorry Odango, but you must choose. Think about it, and when you are ready, call me," and with that Seiya was gone.

Usagi walked upstairs with tears in her eyes. How would she choose between the two? One of them was her destiny, and the other was her closest friend. She took out her star locket. It was the symbol of the love between her and Mamoru. Its soft melody reminded her of the happy times they had together.

Usagi paused in her telling of the story and opened her locket. The locket began to play its enchanting melody. Suddenly, the music stopped. Usagi just stared at her locket in silence.

" Usagi-chan? Are you okay?" asked Makoto from the other end of the line.

The words brought Usagi out of her trance.

" Yes, Mako, what do I do. I love them both."

" Do you love Mamoru only because of destiny, or do you love him as your closest friend?"

" I… I'm not sure."

" Look in your heart and you will find the answer you need. Just remember, no matter what, we make our own destinies. If your destiny is with Mamoru, it is because you choose it," Mako said slowly, making sure Usagi understood it all.

" I understand. I know what I need to do…"