A Silent Acceptance ? by Alex-san

Note: An original Sailormoon fanfiction story. All disclaimers apply. 
Sailormoon belongs to Naoko Takeuchi. This story is rated PG for 
language and themes. All comments, good or bad, are greatly 
appreciated. Please send them to xmainpimpx@aol.com.
Another note: OL is stands for 'office lady', a common abbreviation 
used in Japan.

"Usagi, you are so naﶥ." Arashi Hatarai said as she sat down at 
a sofa next to her co-worker. The windows were open, and a refreshing 
breeze was a constant factor in the room's environment. It was a cool 
summer afternoon, one of those rare days during the summer months where 
the temperature was optimal; there was no unbearable heat, no excessive 
moisture, only the gentle cool breeze blowing through out the air. "You 
have given everything up for him. And from what I see, this is nothing 
but an unhappy ending waiting to happen."
This is Usagi Tsukino, at twenty-five years of age.
Arashi Hatarai was a fellow OL who worked with her at an office 
at Jubaan, and every single instance when Usagi spoke to her of her 
feelings, Arashi would only tell her of the negative side of the 
situation.
"You can say I am nosy if you want, but let's face the facts: 
you've slept with him and you are living with him. I mean you have done 
everything a woman can possibly do. Then how come he has never even 
talk about getting married?"
"That's enough, Arashi!" Usagi snapped. "I am sure he has 
reasons."
"What reasons?" Arashi looked at Usagi with widened eyes. "I 
can't think of any at all! You are beautiful, you are sweet, and you 
are intelligent! Man cannot ask for better?"
Usagi did not really want to hear her co-worker's 'advice', after 
all, she knew long ago that she belonged to him. Arashi did not know 
that. In fact, she knew that in her last life, as the Princess of the 
Moon, and him, as the Prince of the Earth. And now they have 
reincarnated to meet one another once again. They were destined to be 
together. Or were they?


	Usagi has been living with Mamoru for five years now.
	As soon as Usagi was out of high school, she knew she could not 
possibly pass any of the entrance exams for any of the universities. So 
instead she found a job as a typical OL, like so many other young woman 
in Japan. And soon she moved out from her parents' home, and rented an 
apartment and moved into it. It wasn't that she didn't get along with 
her family, but simply she felt she needed space to herself. But she 
wasn't doing the best financially, and before Usagi was aware of her 
problems, she has accumulated more debt under her name then she could 
ever imagine.
	But then there was the love of her life, two lifetimes actually, 
Mamoru Chiba. He was a different story altogether. Mamoru was the type 
in which the gift of intelligence came naturally; and he went through 
the best universities and medical school in Japan without trying. At 
the age of twenty-four, Dr. Mamoru Chiba was a doctor of well 
reputation around the Jubaan area.
	They formally started dating only after high school, when Usagi 
finally introduced Mamoru to her father and mother. Her parents were a 
little skeptical at first of Mamoru, but after hearing his future as 
doctor, they reluctantly accepted their relationship. And before one 
knew, Usagi was twenty years old. She wasn't the silly little school 
girl everyone formally knew, but instead an attractive and matured 
young woman. But even though Usagi had beauty, she did not have the 
determination most other people have. She tend to be lazy and a 
procrastinator. After many years as an OL, she was never promoted. But 
her expenses increased after she begin living on her own. So when 
Mamoru, whom she was deeply in love with, asked her to move in with 
him, she agreed without any hesitation 
	But then came the warnings from her co-workers, especially 
Arashi. And they had a very valid point: a wealthy young doctor like 
Mamoru, why would he put up with a mere OL as his significant other?
	Actually Usagi knew there was something peculiar about Mamoru 
since the day she moved in with him, there seem to be many things he 
has trying to hide from her. And almost every week there would be a 
night in which he did not come home.
	Usagi was always a talkative girl. She loved to talk and gossip. 
Therefore, it was against her very nature not to ask Mamoru about this. 
But even though Usagi wanted to ask him, she was also afraid that it 
would anger him. Or even worse, cause him to leave her. Not only would 
she would without love, Usagi would also be without money, for her job 
as an OL did not suffice to her spending.
	Mamoru was a quiet person. He rarely spoke of his feelings. And 
he didn't like people asking him questions about him. Usagi never knew 
Mamoru's parents, for they died in a car accident when he was young, 
and Mamoru never spoke of any other family members. And Usagi never 
bothered to ask.
	Usagi never minded Mamoru's reticent personality. Perhaps because 
Mamoru was so nice to her, and he always took good care of his Usako.
	So in Usagi's mind, all Mamoru wanted was a small amount of 
personal space. 
In her view, that isn't really too much to ask!


	"Usako," Mamoru said as he came home one day. "I have all of next 
month off. How about we go to Paris? I know you love romantic places 
like that. And since I've been so busy recently, let this be my 
repayment, okay?"
	Mamoru knew Usagi has been distressed recently, and he was trying 
his best to please her.
	But does he know the true source of her unhappiness was his 
absence?


	One day at her office, Usagi hears something startling from 
Arashi.
	"Usagi! I've told you Mamoru wasn't reliable, do you know what I 
saw last night?"
	Usagi looked at Arashi with an annoyed grimace on her face. Why 
can't she be more direct?
	"What would I know what you saw?"
	This is exactly the answer Arashi was looking for, then she went 
about telling her without mercy what she observed.
	"I was out with a couple of friends by downtown. And I saw Mamoru 
walking around by himself, looking all suspicious!"
	"So what?"
	"Usagi! 'So what?' You make this sound like a joke! A man 
downtown, alone by himself? He must have spend a night at a motel with 
a girl!"
	"Did you see him and a girl go in to the motel?"
	"Well, no. But come on, let's face reality here, man do not hang 
out downtown by themselves without anyone. Obviously something is 
wrong."
	What was Arashi talking about? Mamoru was just by himself at 
night. Usagi not only felt Arashi was rude, she also didn't want to 
hear anything else she had to say about her Mamo-chan.
	But Usagi remembered that Mamoru didn't come home last night. So 
what was he doing alone downtown?
	So Usagi decided that she must confront Mamoru about this, 
otherwise she was sure to go crazy.


	"Mamo-chan." Usagi looked at Mamoru straight in the eye as she 
spoke. "Where were you last night?"
	Mamoru ignored her as he put down some of his papers on a nearby 
table. Mamoru eyes then turned away from Usagi's
	After a moment of silence, Usagi decided not to pursue the matter 
any further. She went back into the kitchen and continued her work.
	About five minutes later Mamoru walked into the kitchen. "You 
never asked where I went before. When did you become little Miss Nosy?"
	Usagi didn't turn around to look at him. She decided if he really 
was doing something he didn't want her to know, he wouldn't bring up 
the topic again.
"Well if you don't want to me ask, then I won't ask." 
Usagi felt she shouldn't be too suspicious. She believed after 
all he has done for
her, she really shouldn't be unsatisfied.


"Usagi?" Usagi sighed as she picked up the phone.
   	"What's the matter, Arashi?"
	"Hey, I am downtown again! And this time I saw Mamoru going into 
someone's apartment! It isn't a motel, but still, this can't be good! 
I'll stay here and stand guard, you get down here right now to catch 
him red-handed!"
	Usagi couldn't believe her ears.
	That couldn't be Mamoru, Usagi thought. It's probably that Arashi 
is mistaken someone else for him.
	She told herself to ignore Arashi, but her body couldn't stay 
put. So she took a taxi downtown, not knowing what she would find.


	"That unfaithful bastard has been in there at least three hours, 
if not four! When those two things come out, we'll sure catch them!"
	What she has dreaded for years finally came true. She saw Mamoru 
come out of the apartment door with her own eyes.
	"Now you get up there, Usagi! And catch those two red-handed and 
tell him it's over!"
	Usagi's legs wouldn't obey her.
Usagi stood there and watched as Mamoru came out. A person 
followed,
embraced Mamoru, then kissed him.


Seeing this, Usagi's blood froze.
Arashi gripped onto Usagi's hand tightly, both found each other 
speechless as they stood there staring.
That person? that person is a man.