The Way
Part 2-Phase 5
By: Sailor Jes
e-mail: Sailor jes@aol.com
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"War is like love, it always finds a way."
-Bertolt Brecht
********
Someday
My friend:
We will
know Love -
Of its existence.
In time
Existing within it:
Becoming part of it.
You and I.
- Jonivan
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Usagi gasped for air. Snorting, she laughed even harder. Mamoru then burst
into laughter.
"I swear to God that's what happened!" he cried.
Tears trickled down her cheeks as she laughed so hard she thought she would
faint.
"Don't...say...anything...else!" she said sporadically between her
hysterical laughter. Clutching her aching stomach, Usagi prayed she
wouldn't pee in her pants. As her hysteria subsided, she sighed and rolled
over onto her back. The green carpet of Mamoru's living room tickled her
arms. Rei sat smiling on the leather sofa, staring down at her boyfriend
and her friend side-by-side on the rug.
"You guys are too much," she said, shaking her head. "I just don't get it."
Wiping her eyes, Usagi looked at Rei and said "Oh, Rei-chan, this happened a
long time ago...it's just funny thinking about when Hayashi-sensei fell off
the stool-"
Her face cracked and she burst out into a loud shriek. Upon seeing Usagi
lose it, Mamoru lost it too and flopped onto the carpet, holding his stomach
laughing. Rei stared at the two, who were so engrossed in their revelry.
She honestly didn't understand the friendship between them. If there were
two people on this planet more opposite than each other, it was Mamoru and
Usagi. How could Usagi, who liked pink and bunnies and Saturday morning
cartoons, even get along with Mamoru, who appreciated the simplicity of
white and classical music and long jogs in the wee hours of weekend
mornings? It was uncanny! And despite all that, they still enjoyed each
other's company. Anticipated it even, Rei believed.
Rei often suspected there was something more beneath the guise of a
"friendship." Even when Usagi wasn't there, Mamoru always found some way to
bring her up. The same went for Usagi. If there some feelings
besides friendship in the mix, Rei suspected them more from Usagi's part.
Call it a girl thing but Rei knew the signs. A slight touch of his wrist
when telling him something, speaking in hushed tones, and the gleam in
Usagi's eye whenever he entered the room.
However, picking up on these things was probably just Rei's jealousy. And
she felt her envy was justified. Knowing that there had been a Mamoru and
Usagi before a Rei and Usagi or Rei and Mamoru was enough to make her
resentful. She didn't like feeling left out of anything Mamoru was a part
of. Staring at him and Usagi laughing on the carpet triggered something in
Rei she believed didn't exist inside her. She stood from the sofa and
stormed into the kitchen.
Mamoru's laughter died as he noticed this. Immediatly, he lept to his feet
and barged after her. Usagi's laughter, as well, faded as she saw Mamoru
bound after Rei.
"Rei," Mamoru said, entering the kitchen. "What's wrong?"
She was reaching in his cabinet for a glass. Her face was hidden by the
small door.
"Nothing. Nothing at all," she replied with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
"I'm just need some water." To wash down my feelings of nausea, she added
inwardly.
"That doesn't sound like nothing," Mamoru observed. "Rei, did I do
something? What's wrong?"
Rei sighed and closed the cabinet door. "Mamoru, it's nothing. Can't I be
thirsty without it being an national crisis!"
Put off by her sarcasm, Mamoru shrugged and mumbled "Yeah, I guess."
Rei opened up the door to his refrigerator. Turning from her, Mamoru felt
there was more to her answer than Rei was claiming. He didn't know what he
had done. What had made Rei snap like that? Was it something he said?
Remembering he had deserted Usagi in his living room, he turned and walked
out of the kitchen. Rei's gaze followed him and she felt a deep worry in
the recesses of her heart.
*******
Understanding something was quite a different thing than accepting it. And
living with something was by far diiferent than accepting it.
So Usagi was learning as she struggled to escape the vicious love triangle
she had trapped herself in. Discovering that Mamoru and Rei were together
had crushed her. Accepting it had been an uphill battle. Living with it,
though...Slouching on the green carpet, catching her breath, she supposed
this is what it felt like. Living with it was like being the one child not
chosen on either kickball team; it was like witnessing a priceless vase tip
and crash to the floor; it was like looking at your face in the mirror and
seeing only shapes and colors instead of a living person.
The words weren't distinguishable but the tone most certainly was. Usagi
heard the sharp, urgent whispers of Mamoru and Rei. What could they be
saying, she wondered. Are they talking about me? Usagi flopped back down
onto the the plush carpeting. Frankly, she was sick of it. sick of the
whole thing. Was he really that stupid? Could he really not notice her
lingering gazes, her moments of nervous silence, her shy smiles? He would
have to be blind! He would have to be...just like her. Sighing, Usagi
wondered if this was how he had felt when she was with Seiya. Probably so.
Well, it sucked. Big time.
Rubbing her eyes, Usagi didn't want to do it anymore. Playing third wheel
had grown too wearisome. She also had the feeling that Rei was beginning to
resent her. They hardly ever went out for coffee anymore or talked anymore.
Once, Usagi even caught Rei glaring at her she called Mamoru "Mamo-chan."
Usagi gathered her things just as Mamoru left the kitchen.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"Home," Usagi replied, slipping on her shoes. "I've still got some studying
to do."
"Okay. I'll call you."
Usagi began to nod, but stopped herself. It was time to stand up to her
torturer. "No, Mamo-chan. Don't call me."
Looking at him, Usagi saw he seemed puzzled and hurt. Her will
buckled in on itself.
"I'll call you," she sighed.
Mamoru smiled and opened the door for her. "Bye, Usa."
She turned and smiled and walked out of his apartment.
*******
While chopping tomatoes for a salad, Makoto glanced into the living room.
She frowned and shook her head. Usagi laid on the sofa, staring at the
ceiling; she hadn't moved since Makoto had started making the salad--about
fifteen minutes ago. This wasn't like the depressed fog Usagi had wallowed
in a few months ago, nor was this a complete disregard for reality. No,
Mako knew the haze that Usagi was in well. The sighs, the silly grin glued
onto her lips, the dreamy gazes she cast out the window. Usagi was in love.
Mako figured.
Just then, Minako came wandering into the kitchen. Peering into the large
bowl, she proceeded to stick her fingers in for a sampling of cucumber.
Mako, however, caught her and poked her wrist lightly with the tip of the
knife.
"Ow!" Minako yelled. "Jeez, I just wanted a cuke, Ms. Stingy."
"That's gross, Minako-chan. At least wash your hands first," Mako replied.
Minako stuck her tongue out at her friend and then noticed Usagi lounging on
the couch.
"Oh, hey Usagi-chan, I didn't see ya there," Minako said.
No reply.
"Usagi-chan?"
Usagi's gaze lazily rolled towards her firends. "Hmmm?"
"I said hi," Minako repeated.
"Oh. Hi." And then she smiled and returned her gaze to the ceiling.
Minako eyed her queerly and then peered at Makoto. "She's been in Lala-
land and awful lot lately."
"I think," Mako began, but then lowered her voice to a whisper. "I think
she's in love."
Smiling, Minako clapped her hands together. "Yes! I'm not the only one who
noticed. So who do you think it is?"
"I don't know, Minako-chan. She hasn't really mentioned anybody."
"Yeah, I know," she grumbled. "But, that can be easily remedied. We'll
find out soon enough."
Shrugging, Mako replied "With you, I'm sure we will."
Minako tittered sarcastically. The she said "Hey, Mako-chan you got
something on your leg."
As the unsuspecting Mako glanced down at her leg, Minako's hand dived into
the salad bowl and plucked a cucumber from it. Giggling, Minako fled the
kitchen.
"Hey! Minako-chan," Mako screamed when she realized she had been
outsmarted. "You dirty thief! Stay away from my salad!"
********
"So, who ya thinking 'bout, Usagi-chan?" Minako cooed later that night.
As usual, Usagi sat pensively at the kitchen table, a textbook open in front
of her. The book, however, was acting merely as a pillow while she
daydreamed.
Raising her eyebrows, Usagi replied "No one."
"Oh," Minako replied. "I just thought you might be thinking about someone.
Or maybe even dreaming?"
Usagi's cheeks flushed slightly. "No. No, I wasn't thinking or dreaming
about anybody."
"Because, you know, I one of your best friends and if you're in love
with someone it would do you good to tell me. They don't call me the Love
Goddess for nothing."
Nearly dropping the pencil she was holding, Usagi replied "No, I'm not, uh,
in love with anyone, Minako-chan. Where did you come up with such a crazy
idea?"
"Oh, puh-lease, Usagi-chan," Minako exclaimed. "I can tell. You've been in
this love-sick stupor for quite a while now. And, besides, there's little
hearts written all over your notebook."
Usagi clamped her hands over the margins of her notebook where there
happened to be dozens of small hearts drawn.
Minako sighed and touched her friend's wrist. "Don't be ashamed. Love
isn't a bad thing."
"Yeah, but if I tell you, Minako-chan, then it won't be long before the rest
of Tokyo finds out. I can't have that happen," Usagi replied, collecting
her things.
"What?! What is that supposed to mean?"
Walking out of the kitchen, Usagi said "You know very well what I mean."
"Wait! Usagi-chan! What do you-"
But Usagi had already taken cover in her room and shut the door.
"Uggghhhhh," she groaned in frustration. Collapsing onto her bed, she
buried her face in her pillow. This was turning into a big fiasco. How
many more people would she have to hide this from?
Knock, knock, knock.
"Uggghhhh!!" Usagi screamed into the pillow. "Go away, Minako-chan. I'm
not talking to you at this moment!"
The door opened and Ami peeked her head through. "Will you talk to me?"
"Ami-chan! Oh, sure. Sorry, I thought you were Minako-chan here to pester
me some more."
Giggling, Ami shook her head. "No."
"What did you need?"
"Well, I just needed your opinion on this paragraph of my paper for class
but my problems can wait. What's up with you?"
Usagi shook her head and sighed. "Am I really trapped in a "love-sick
stupor? Have I really been obvious?"
Tilting her head to the side, Ami smiled in sympathy. "Well..."
"So I have been?" she said.
Ami nodded. "I've noticed your behavior has been different these past
couple of weeks. But, I assumed that it was just school issues."
Usagi twisted her hands together. "Being in love," she began softly "Is
supposed to be like cold water on a hot day, right? So why do I still feel
like I'm boiling?"
Question marks appeared in Ami's eyes. "Usagi-chan, I'm not a literature
major like you. Speak in prose please."
Chuckling, Usagi replied "Sorry, Ami. It's just that I like some one
and that should make me feel great."
"But?"
"But," Usagi sighed. "He doesn't like me back. He has a girlfriend."
"Oh," said Ami. She remained silent, question marks still lingering in her
pupils, waiting for Usagi to continue. While Ami could tell you the square
root of the cosine of 98.6, she was somewhat clueless in the love
department.
"The worst part is...is, well, I could have had him before. He used to like
me too. But I was madly in love with Seiya then..."
Although Ami didn't posses the love skills that her other friends did, she
did have perception like an owl at night. Immediatly, she knew who Usagi
was talking about.
"Usagi-chan," she murmured. "Are you in love with Mamoru-san?"
Wide-eyed, Usagi stared at Ami. "How did you know that?"
"It was a good guess."
The two girls sat on Usagi's bed gazing at each other. Usagi was in shock;
her secret had been revealed. Ami was in shock; could it be that Usagi had
at last opened her eyes to the obvious?
"Ami-chan," Usagi finally said, "Please don't tell Minako-chan or Mako-chan.
I love them dearly but if they knew, it wouldn't be long before Rei-chan, or
worse yet, Mamo-chan found out."
Nodding, Ami responded "I won't tell. But, Usagi-chan, what are you going
to do? How can--? I just don't understand what--?"
"I don't know either. Patience will be my ally, I suppose. I'll just have
to wait and see," Usagi said.
"You might be waiting for a long time."
"I know, Ami-chan. But, that's all I can do at this point. Wait and hope.
It isn't much but it's all I have. Anyways, thanks for listening. You
needed me to read something?"
Shaking her head, Ami replied "I think I can do it. Thanks though,
Usagi-chan."
"Thank you too, Ami-chan."
Ami was about to exit Usagi's room when she said "Oh, and Usagi-chan, I
won't say anything. I promise."
Usagi smiled and nodded. When Ami left, she sunk back onto her bead and
closed her eyes, wondering how she had gotten herself into this mess.
******
Usagi smiled when she saw him. It was an involuntary reaction. The mere
sight of him walking through the door of the Crown Fruit Parlor sent a
delicious shiver down her legs. He waved and made his way over to the
table.
"You'll never guess who's coming to visit me," Mamoru said, flopping down at
the booth.
"The president of the United States?" joked Usagi.
"No," chided Mamoru. "Motoki. My old best friend. Remember, I told you
this. He moved to Kyoto in 11th grade and you took his desk."
"Oh, right. So I finally get to meet the reason you hated me all through
high school."
Mamoru laughed. "Hey, he's only of the reasons. And yes, you do.
I've told him a lot about you. He's eager to meet you also."
"So when's he coming?"
"On the 21st. But he's only staying for a week."
"Okay," Usagi chirped.
Mamoru raised his eyebrows. "What's up with you today?"
"Huh? What do you mean?" she responded.
"Well, you're smiling an awful lot."
"I'm entitled to be happy, aren't I?" Usagi said.
Mamoru shrugged. "Yeah, you are. Any particular reason that you're happy?"
"Well, it's the first day of spring," Usagi suggested. "And, I get to be
with you!"
Raising an eyebrow, Mamoru propped his cheek with his hand. "Okay, who are
you and where's the real Usa?"
Usagi giggled and blushed.
"Really, Usa, what's up with you today? I haven't seen you this perky in a
loonng time. Ever since--." The words died on Mamoru's lips and he shut
them quickly.
"Ever since what?" Usagi asked.
Mamoru shook his head. "Nothing," he muttered.
Kicking him under the table, Usagi exclaimed "No fair! You can't do that!
Ever since what?"
"Ever since Seiya," Mamoru answered, rubbing his throbbing shin.
Usagi's face froze. Was her "love-sick stupor" really that obvious? Was
that twinge in Mamoru's voice jealousy? Sirens screeching "akward moment
alert" rang in her head. Usagi needed a diversion.
"Well," she chuckled. "Don't worry, Mamo-chan. You're still the only man
in my life."
Mamoru's face softened and he laughed. "That's good to know."
*****
Mamoru sat at terminal 3G nervously. Tapping his foot on the floor, he
checked his watch for the third time in seven minutes. Then, he turned his
gaze up to the flight information board. Eleven more minutes until Motoki's
flight landed. Mamoru drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair. He
hadn't seen his old best friend in over four years. Sure, he had spoken to
him regularly. But chatting to someone on the phone every month or so was
very different than having them spend a week in your apartment. Mamoru
hoped that things wouldn't feel too akward.
"Quit it," Usagi muttered, never glancing up from the Cosmo she was reading.
"What?"
"The finger thing. Quit it. It's annoying."
He had asked Usagi to come to the airport with him for two reasons. One:
she would help calm his nerves. And two: she could start a conversation
with a rock. If things got weird, he could count on Usagi to be his life
vest. Usagi closed the magazine and looked at Mamoru.
"Will you stop being such a nervous wreck? He's your best friend for God's
sake!"
"It's been a while, alright?" Mamoru snapped.
Rolling her eyes, Usagi sighed. "You'll be okay."
"Flight 529 form Kyoto has arrived," announced a female voice over the
loudspeaker.
Usagi glanced at Mamoru and motioned for him to stand by the gate.
Eventually, the doors opened and passengers began flooding out. Usagi
wasn't sure what she was expecting from Motoki. She pictured him looking
just like Mamoru. So she was surprised when a tall, sandy-haired man with a
smile that could melt liquid nitrogen strode from the gate and waved at
Mamoru. Immediatly, Mamoru grinned and rushed over to greet him. They
shook hands and patted each other on the back.
"Wow, Mamoru-kun, you haven't changed at all," Motoki exclaimed.
"You too. How have you been?"
The two men conversated excitedly while Usagi looked on. Motoki was cute.
Very cute. A nice surprise. After a while, she cleared her throat and the
two looked at her. Crossing her arms, she stared at Mamoru, waiting for him
to introduce her. Motoki smiled and walked over to her.
"You must be Rei. I've heard nothing but good-"
"No, Motoki-kun," Mamoru said. "This is Tsukino Usagi, my friend."
Motoki's face changed to a look of surprise. He smiled slyly at his friend.
" is the Odango Atama you told me about. She's a lot prettier than
you described her."
Usagi narrowed her eyes at Mamoru. First, she was just his "friend." Not
his best friend or the girl who he professed his love to a year ago, just a
"friend." Second, was the Odango Atama bit. After all these years that
name could still do things to her temper. Chuckling, he replied "No, that
was a long time ago. She's just Usa now. And, yes, she a lot prettier
than I described her."
Okay, well, Mamoru knew how to make up for things. Usagi's heart turned to
silly putty and her lips parted in a radiant smile. She bowed at Motoki.
"Nice to meet you, Motoki-san. We should go get your luggage before it
becomes too crowded."
"Sure," Motoki replied.
Allowing his two friends to walk ahead of him, Mamoru smiled. Being with
Motoki felt like old times. He remembered how they used to whisper in the
back of class and how they used to make all the girls swoon in PE when they
would play basketball. But, glancing ahead at Usagi, Mamoru realized that
sometimes old times aren't nearly as good as the present times. He believed
that, given the choice, he would take Usagi over Motoki any day.
Nevertheless, it felt exhilirating to have his two best friends together for
the first time.
*******
"Hey, I know this really great Italian restaurant. You wanna eat out
tonight?" Mamoru asked Motoki.
Shrugging, Motoki replied "Sure, sounds great."
"Great. I'm asking Rei to come. She really wants to meet you."
Motoki grimaced. "Great, so I'm going to become the tag-along."
"You won't be a tag-along. What is it with everybody and this 'leeching
complex?'" Mamoru exclaimed.
"Why?" Motoki replied. "Who else has a 'leeching complex,' as you like to
call it?"
"Usa. Whenever I invite her somewhere with Rei and I, she gets all
hesitant. It drives me insane!"
Motoki smiled. "You both drive each other insane a lot."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, you bicker about everything. It's like you're an old married
couple."
Mamoru smiled and shook his head. "We fight a lot because we're exact
opposites."
Staring at Mamoru, Motoki suddenly said "Invite her tonight."
"Usa?"
"Yeah. I want to get to talk to her again. She was funny. Plus, then I
won't be the third wheel."
Mamoru shrugged and replied "Okay, I don't see why not. I'll call her up."
******
So that was how Mamoru wound up glaring at his two best friends the whole
night. God, they were making him sick. It was obvious Motoki wanted to do
more than just "talk to her again." The excessive compliments were becoming
disgusting. And then, Motoki did the old "palm reader" pick-up, where he
told Usagi what the small grooves in her hand meant. Not only did it make
girls think that you were some kind of physcic genius, but the subtle
caressing of the hand was an inconspicuous method of flirtation. Mamoru had
seen Motoki do that all the time in high school and girls had swooned.
Then, it had been a riot. Now, it was obnoxious. And, as if it couldn't
get any worse, Usagi was eating the whole thing up! Her laughter was a lot
more than polite for that lame joke Motoki had just told. Her smile seemed
to be a little too wide for Mamoru's tastes, as well. While Motoki was
entertaining Usagi with a story, Rei leaned over and whipsered in her
boyfriend's ear.
"What's wrong?"
Mamoru looked at her and rolled his eyes. "Those two," he whispered back.
"Aww, I think they're cute. And they seem to be having a good time."
"Well, I don't think it's very 'cute' and I-"
Usagi's hysterical laughter interrupted Mamoru. "Oh, Motoki-san that is so
funny! I've never heard of something like that happening before!"
"It's 100% true, I swear to you!"
Usagi finished chuckling and then glanced across the table at Mamoru's sour
face. He was practically glaring at her. The smile on Usagi's lips
immediately wilted. It seemed the light-heartedness of the evening went
with it.
"Uh, Rei-chan," Usagi muttered. "Will you come to the bathroom with me?"
Rei nodded, cast a disappointed glance in Mamoru's direction, and then rose
from her chair. Once the girls were gone, Motoki lightly punched Mamoru's
arm.
"Cheer up, man. You've got two great girls sitting next to you."
Attempting to communictae his displeasure, Mamoru looked up at his friend.
However, the mischievious look on Motoki's face could make even a statue
smile and Mamoru couldn't help but crack a grin.
"Man, Mamoru-kun, I'm insanely jealous of you," Motoki said.
"Why do you say that?"
"You have two beautiful, smart girls who cling on to everything you say and
do! What more could you ask for?"
Mamoru laughed and winked. "What makes you think there's only two?"
Chuckling, Motoki continued "She's a firey one, Mamoru-kun. Filled with
passion. I've never seen such an exotic beauty like hers. And her
eyes...that color is absolutely incredible! And that hair. That's the kind
of hair you'd want to run your fingers through. Man, you are so lucky!"
Mamoru smiled and replied "Yeah, Rei's incredible."
Raising an eyebrow, Motoki said "No, not Rei. Usagi. She's amazing. Gosh,
I'm so jealous of you."
Something clicked in Mamoru. He didn't like how Motoki spoke of Usagi. His
words made her sound like a toy for his enjoyment only. Well, Usagi wasn't
his and how dare he--whoa. Mamoru caught himself in mid-thought. What was
he thinking? Where had that envy come from? He hadn't reacted at all when
he thought Motoki was talking about Rei. Possesiveness would have been
proper then. But, Usagi wasn't his to be protective over. Why did he feel
like ringing his friend's neck?
"Usagi doesn't go for guys like you," Mamoru snapped.
"What do you mean 'guys like me?'"
Mamoru didn't want to get into it. "Forget it, Motoki-kun."
Motoki stared at Mamoru for a moment. "Hey, is something going on between
you and her?"
"What? No! Of course not!"
"Then why are you acting like this, man?" reprimanded Motoki.
"I said forget it, okay?"
Just then, the girls walked back to the table. "Did we miss anything
exciting?" Rei asked.
Motoki shook his head and practically scowled at Mamoru. "No, nothing at
all."
******
Mamoru cursed himself for eating three garlic rolls. He had been trying to
go to sleep for over a hour and a half now. His thoughts, however, kept
wandering back to the unpleasant scene played out with Motoki. The anger
that Mamoru felt had worried him. He shouldn't have got that upset at
Motoki, his own best friend, over Uasgi, his other best friend.
Friend...that was a word he needed to keep repeating.
Mamoru needed to apologize to Motoki. He swallowed down a bitter taste in his mouth
that he knew wasn't just garlic. Motoki and Usagi just didn't seem right.
Actually, anybody and Usagi didn't seem right. Maybe he and Usagi...?
he screamed at himself, squeezing his eyes shut.
******
"I can't believe school is over in two weeks," cried Usagi. "Hello Summer!"
Smiling, Mamoru replied "Yeah, this year has sped by. It's hard to believe
that in a year you'll be out of school."
" be out of school," Usagi corected.
"Not really. I've got three long years of med school ahead of me."
"Oh, right. Well, that's okay. I'll come visit you when I'm out in the
real world doing my real job instead of wasting three more years of my life
sitting in a classroom."
Casting a wry glance in her direction, Mamoru smirked. "You're not amusing.
Oh, hey, I didn't tell you. I got a job in the hospital this summer. It
doesn't pay great but it's the experience that counts."
"Hey, Mamo-chan, that's fabulous. Or should I call you Dr. Chiba?"
"Not yet. I'll probably just be doing the dirty work like mopping floors or
changing people's bedpans. Not too glamorous."
Usagi laughed and breathed in the crisp, spring air. It was a perfect park
day. The sky was an endless blue. The trees were that perfect green that
shouts "spring!" There were voices and laughter and happiness as abundant
as the daisies lining the side of the path. Usagi gazed up into the May
sky. Suddenly, she began singing.
"I was strolling through the park one day.
In the very merry month of May.
I was taken by surprise by a pair of deep blue eyes.
And I don't know the rest of the words!"
Mamoru laughed. "You changed some of the lyrics there, Pavarotti."
"I know. Oh, is that ice cream I see up ahead? Come on, Mamo-chan, you can
buy me some!"
"Sure," Mamoru muttered. "Gee, do I look like I'm made out of money?"
Quickening her pace, Usagi strode up to a vendor selling ice cream. Mamoru
joined her.
"The eternal question," he joked. "Vanilla or chocolate?"
She smiled up at him. "You remembered!"
"What'll ya have, young miss?" the vendor asked Usagi.
"Hmm...today seems like a vanilla day," she exclaimed. "Gimme one scoop of
vanilla on a cone."
"And you sir?" the vendor asked, pointing at Mamoru.
"I'll have the same," he told the man.
The vendor traded his ice cream for Mamoru's money and Usagi and he were on
their way. As Usagi was licking the sweet cream running down her fingers,
she glanced over at Mamoru. He looked positively adorable trying to
catching the drops of ice cream melting on his cone. Realizing he had an
audience, Mamoru looked up at Usagi in surprise. She burst out laughing.
"What?" Mamoru asked huffily.
"You've got some ice cream on your nose!" she laughed.
Mamoru wiped it with the back of his hand and grinned at Usagi. It was a
friendly moment, but suddenly, Usagi became shy like the first day they met.
In fact, she blushed and couldn't even meet his gaze. It felt like he could
hear her pounding heart, like he could detect the desire and awe and love
pouring out of her.
"You know," he began. "A wise person once told me that there's nothing
better than ice cream."
Usagi gulped. "Really? Well...maybe that person isn't so wise."
"0h? Why do you say that?"
"Well," Usagi replied, smiling. "I can think of one thing that's ten times
better than ice cream."
"And that is?"
Usagi raised her eyes shyly up to Mamoru's. He seemed so comfortable and
blissful in his ignorance. Smiling slightly, she cast her eyes down to her
cone. "Figure it out," she challenged, sinking her teeth into the ice
cream.
Peering at her, Mamoru shook his head. "Usa, I will never figure you out.
You say something one day, and the next day you're arguing the opposite."
"That's part of my charm," she giggled.
Inside, Usagi's heart was pounding like a marching band on Independence Day.
She stole another quick glance at Mamoru and her insides fluttered. Closing
her eyelids for a brief moment, Usagi envisioned the two on them hand in
hand, eating ice cream, sharing a joke or two, kissing. Then, she thought
of Rei and the happy fantasy created in her mind shattered and plummeted to
the ground. Would the imbalance that Usagi felt in her gut ever return to
equilibrium? Would Mamoru ever know how much she truly cared for him? And,
more important, would Usagi ever get that chance to show him?
*******
All these questions and more will be answered in the last phase of The Way
coming very soon!
Sailor Moon belongs to Toei, Kodansha, Bandai, Naoko Takeuchi, etc. This
fanfic, however, belongs to me. If you would like to use it anywhere,
please e-mail me first.
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