Red Champagne
Usagi-chan
Usagi@lunap.com
http://hop.to/minako_usagi
Standard Disclaimers Apply.
Author's Note: Thanks so much to Eclipse-chan, my brand new editor!
I really appreciate all your help! And of course to Minako-chan,
my constant source of anno.. encouragement! *Grin* And thanks to
everyone who volunteered to be an editor for me when I asked! I
really appreciate it!!
Prologue/Introduction
Soft music was playing in the background as Usagi poured herself another
glass of champagne. She set the chilled bottle back into the icebox before
stepping out onto the balcony.
Usagi leaned on the cool metal railing of the balcony and sighed as she
looked out across the city. She sipped from the champagne glass she held in her
hand before raising it slightly.
The room behind her was glowing from the two candles lit in the center of
the small table. Two dinner plates sat across from each other, and there were
two roses in the middle of the table.
"Happy anniversary." Usagi whispered, her glass still raised in a toast.
Slowly she tilted the cup and watched as the red champagne fell in a stream, and
splashed as it hit the pavement below.
She continued to watch as the liquid ran, staining the white cement a deep
red. The glass slipped from her hand and tumbled to the ground, shattering on
impact. The sound set Usagi off, and Usagi fell to her knees, clinging to the
railing and sobbing.
Chapter One
"Hey Usa!" Minako smiled from the doorway of Usagi's large office. Usagi
nodded her greeting, not looking up from her paperwork.
"What are you doing this weekend?" Minako asked. "The girls are having a
sleep over at the temple, just like old times, and..."
"No." Usagi interrupted, looking up with angry blue eyes. "You know very
well what I'm doing this weekend, Minako."
Minako was stunned as she looked at her friend, but her expression slowly
softened.
"Usa, you can't cling to him forever. He wouldn't want you to do this to
yourself. You know that!" Minako stepped into the office and shut the door.
"Come to the party, at least for a little bit. If you really don't enjoy
yourself, you can leave."
"I'm not going, Minako." Usagi sighed and began massaging her temples. "I
can't go. I can't just forget..."
"No one expects you to forget, Usa, but it's been three years. You need
to move on, and live your life!" Minako sighed as well. "We worry about you,
Usa."
"I know you do, and I appreciate it. Really, I do. But he was... He
meant everything to me." Usagi shook her head. "I loved him."
"We know Usa. It hurt all of us, and it was so unexpected..." Minako shut
her eyes against the memories the conversation was drudging up. "Come to the
party, Usa. If not for yourself, then for the others. You haven't seen Ami in
months, she said. You haven't returned any of her phone calls or anything. And
Makoto said you haven't stopped by her apartment or restaurant in ages. Rei
says she hasn't seen you more than twice since Christmas. They miss you Usa. I
miss you."
"I've been busy with work." Usagi replied, and it was true. Usagi was the
CEO of Rose Designs, in close affiliation with Moonlight Models, Minako's
company. The pair had dedicated their lives to their companies and the results
had been worth it. At the tender age of twenty-two the women owned two of the
most successful fashion organizations in the industry.
"Usa, I've been busy with work and I still see them."
"Minako, any other weekend, maybe, but..."
"Why do you think we planned it for this weekend?" Minako interrupted.
"Please, Usa."
Usagi sighed, but nodded her agreement. "Alright, I'll come."
"Good." Minako smiled. "We'll see you at the temple tonight, at seven?"
"Yeah."
"I'll leave you to finish your work now." Minako dashed out of the office
before Usagi could change her mind.
"I swear, that girl never works. If it weren't for me, both our companies
would go under." Usagi muttered as she continued the paper work she had been
doing before Minako had interrupted her.
Usagi finished packing her bag and glanced around her room to make sure
she hadn't forgotten anything. It was only six, but she knew that everyone
would be there early. It was tradition. She grabbed her car keys and locked
her apartment door.
She rode the elevator down to the parking garage deep in thought. She
hadn't seen Rei much over the past three years, despite their strong friendship.
It hurt too much.
Every time she looked at Rei, she saw parts of him. The same black hair,
the same defined cheekbones, the same serious look in the eyes. It just
reminded Usagi of her loss.
The elevator halted to a stop, startling Usagi from her thoughts. She
stepped through the doors and walked to her small silver jaguar. She tossed the
bag into the passenger seat and slid into the driver's seat. After buckling up,
Usagi guided the car out of the parking garage and into the streets of Tokyo.
When she got to the temple, Usagi parked her car and grabbed her bag.
Despite herself, Usagi began to feel the familiar excitement about having a
sleepover party with her friends.
Her pace was quick as she moved up the stairs of the shrine to the buildings
where Rei lived.
"Usa!" A voice called as she reached the top of the stairs. "Your early!"
"No," Usagi replied with a smile. "I'm right on time."
"She's right." Makoto replied with a smile.
"We've missed you." Rei said with a soft smile. "It's good to see that
light in your eyes again."
Usagi smiled weakly at Rei, practically hearing him as her friend spoke.
'No! This is Rei. He's dead, he's gone. He won't ever speak to you again.'
She thought cruelly to herself.
"I think I smell some of Mako's famous brownies. What are we sitting
around out here for?" Usagi asked.
"Good point!" Ami agreed, giggling. The four girls jumped up and rushed
inside. Usagi followed behind, carrying her duffel bag over her shoulder. She
could hear the girls laughing over something in the kitchen, but she paused in
the hallway.
Usagi looked at the wall which was lined with photographs. Most were
pictures of Rei, and her family. There was one of Rei with Usagi, and one group
shot.
"It's hard, seeing him there, isn't it?" Rei asked softly. Her gaze was
resting on her brother's face.
"I miss him, Rei." Usagi's voice was barely audible.
"So do I, Usa. But he's gone, and because of it, I'm losing you too." Rei
turned her gaze to meet Usagi's, and Usagi saw tears.
"It's just that you two were so much alike, and every minute I spend with
you reminds me of the time I won't have with him."
"He was special. No one can ever replace him." Rei replied.
"I know that. And I have to move on. I know that too. It's just so
hard..." Usagi let her voice trail off and remained silent for a minute. "You
won't lose me too."
Usagi smiled at Rei before walking into the kitchen.
"I hope you saved me some brownies!" Usagi called as she dropped her
duffel bag in a corner.
"Hurry up Usa!" Minako called, her face smudged with chocolate. Usagi laughed
softly.
"If only your models could see you now!"
Rei smiled from the doorway, happy to finally see Usagi smile.
Usagi sank deeper into the bubble bath as she sighed. Her eyes were
closed, causing her eyelashes to gently brush against her cheeks.
'I guess this is it.' She thought to herself. 'The last night I can sulk for
lost love.'
Usagi clenched her fist beneath the water to strengthen her reserve. She
had made a vow to herself to move on. After seeing the way she was hurting her
friends, Usagi knew she couldn't cling to him anymore.
Usagi rose from the tub, water falling off her like little rain droplets.
She quickly toweled herself off before pulling on a comfortable white bathrobe.
She went into the kitchen and pulled out a single champagne flute, and grabbed a
bottle of red champagne from the fridge. Usagi poured herself a glass and
decided to take it outside, onto the balcony.
"To you, darling. To lost love, hurt and pain. And to moving on. To
life." Usagi held the glass slightly raised as she whispered the toast. Usagi
lowered the glass to her lips and drained the red liquid.
"Goodbye..."
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