Stepping Stones part 4 Asuka egace@hotmail.com PG --------------------------------------------------------------------- Story belongs to Asuka But characters don't :) egace@hotmail.com Sorry about this part taking so long.. so many things came up... school, projects, and more school.... Stepping Stones Part 4 Mamoru tightened his grip on the bouquet of roses in his hand. He couldn't help to wonder who this man was who stood behind his girlfriend. Usagi had not yet noticed Mamoru's angered expression at all as she greeted her friends. Sounds of joy erupting from the girls drowned out the grumbles escaping Mamoru's throat. "How could she," he thought. "be with another man? " "Mako, Mina this is my college friend...Kevin." she said gesturing behind her. Kevin lifted his head as he heard his name and stopped flipping furiously through his book. A rosy hue appeared on his cheeks as he noticed the two women smiling at him. He smiled back before returning to his book. "He is a little upset and embarrassed right now since he came here before learning any Japanese." A crooked smile appeared upon Mina's face. A mischievous idea was brewing in her mind. "Does that mean we, I..uh mean can have a little fun.." she said slightly elbowing Makoto in the side. "No pranks! He is already having a hard time." Usagi could see through Mina's smile. " So be nice." "Hey no problem, Usa-chan." Mina replied. "Anyway let Mako and I leave you with "Romeo" over there. It's been a long time since you two have spoken." "Not long enough." mumbled Usagi as her friends raced to greet a weary and confused Kevin. Usagi forced a smile as she turned to greet Mamoru. She was surprised to see him there after she had left for America against his wishes. The emotions from the previous years suddenly began to return. Her heart rate increased and she at that moment she thought would run and hug him when a suddenly memory resurfaced... ------------------------------------------- Usagi had been eagerly awaiting the acceptance letter from the college she had applied to in America. Mamoru had his heart set on her staying home for her education, after he confessed his love for her. But she wasn't ready for marriage, not yet. She wanted to be on her own, truly on her own. To find herself. But he just couldn't understand. "Usako, I have told you numerous times that I want you to stay here. You can go to college her in Japan. There is no need for you to leave home to get your education." She sighed and hung her head. "I didn't say anything to you when you went to Harvard. So why should it differ with me?" she said biting her lip. "That was different..." God, why does he have to be so stubborn. "How so Mamo-chan?" Silence. "How so Mamo-chan? Tell me how it is different." She chose then to lift her head. She found Mamoru sitting across from her. His hands on his knees. He was holding it back, she thought. The anger, she could see it. His outbursts had become more frequent since she had announced her decision. What happened to the understanding, and loving man she knew? "Usako." "Usagi" he said correcting himself. "I can't stay here and listen to this. Do what ever you want. I don't care anymore, I tried to be a supportive boyfriend but..." "Supportive?!" she cried, attempting to hold back her frustration. "You are trying to tell me how to run my life. How is that supportive?" He rose to his feet, "Think what you want Usagi. I am finished with this argument. The woman I love is staying here with me, got it?" "Is that a threat? You can't run my life, I am not a child anymore!" A muffled sound escaped his throat as he quickly spun around to face her. Hands quickly grabbed his collar, lifting her from the floor. "I said you are staying." He whispered into her ear before lowering her to the floor and leaving the room. A sudden sickness came to her and she rushed to the bathroom.... -------------------------------------- She warily extended her hand to him and expected him to do the same, but instead a bouquet of roses appeared in her palm. Ignoring Kevin's presence for a moment, Mamoru flashed a smile to the bewildered Usagi . "I missed you Usako.." Usagi 's expression change from confusion to anger. "Mamoru ..why? What is this?" He reached for her, but she quickly staggered back. "Please let me explain. Let's talk about what happened." She lowered her eyes knowing that if she continued to stare at his blue globes that she would fall into his trap again. "Usako, I have changed. I really have. Please let me prove to you that I am not the man that I used to be." "Mamoru I am *not* in the mood to talk about this right now. Another time?" she asked keeping her eyes lowered. "Yeah, anything for you Usako." he replied before he quietly left the gate. Usagi rolled her eyes. If it isn't one thing it is another she thought as she stared at the roses Mamoru gave her. Can I trust him again? "Mamo-chan." She whispered. "Usa!, Usagi! HELP....!" She turned to see Mako and Mina tugging on her friend. A pleading expression was on his face. "Come on guys let him go...." "Oh yeah, this is going to be an interesting vacation." she thought racing to help her friend. ************************************************************ -----Towers International Hotel "So we are going to meet in the lobby tomorrow?" Usagi sat on the full size bed beside the bathroom smiling at her reflection in the mirror across from her. The sound of running water was heard from the slightly ajar door. "Yeah, about noon. And be on time, Kevin." "Why so late?" she heard him ask. "Two words, Jet *yawn* Lag..." "Got ya! And how about you being on time too Ms. Tsukino." "You should talk." she replied. "At least I am on time for class and I don't even need 13 other frat brothers to wake me." "Hey," he said pausing to shut the water off. "They keep me up late. Studying you know." "Uh huh." she mumbled leaning back onto the pillows. "I make good marks..uh.um.. Usa, could you toss me a towel.?" Usagi turned to the door, "You don't have one in there?" "No." "Why don't you come out and get one." she said innocently. "I'm naked!" "So.." "USA..." "All right, allright....hold on." "HURRY Usa. It's cold!" She grinned and tossed a towel to the door. A hand reached from behind it a dragged the towel inside. "I am going to leave now, you all right?" "Yeah..." "Then I'll see you tomorrow..." "Usa wait, I need to ask you something before you leave.." "Go ahead." "Who was the guy you stopped to talk to today?" "Oh..he was the one I told you about." she said trying to hide the hurt in her voice. "He wanted to talk." "I'm sorry..Usa. Why don't you go on..." He heard the uneasiness in her voice. Something that she never revealed unless she was upset. She had told him about her experience after he had won her friendship. He understood why she had stayed so long. He was once as blind as her boyfriend. ----Tsukino Residence "Usagi!" Usagi could not recall the last time she had seen her mother smile as she did that afternoon. Her mother's arms wrapped themselves around Usagi who returned the affectionate gesture. It had been along time. She spied her father leaning against the den wall while her mother continued to hold her. He turned to her and smiled. That's all she needed. Oh honey.We are so proud of you. Your grades are so good. Your father has been bragging about them to his coworkers." Kenji coughed and walked away from his spot. "Proud eh? I thought you told me that I was crazy leaving home to go abroad, Pops!" A familiar grumbling sound emerged from the den. "He hates being called "Pops", makes him feel old." Usagi smiled and closed the door to the house. She was home again. -------------- She awoke to hear the gentle purring of her ebony cat, Luna. The pair of small red eyes blinked at the sight of the old occupant once again in her bed. Usa had missed the warm animal sleeping in her bed, but bringing her pet with her was out of the question. Yet Luna like her family and friends, didn't forget her. She could the smell of a home cooked meal awaiting her down stairs. Luna leaped from her resting spot after her owner moved to sit up. Usagi's eyes shifted to the vase on her dresser. The roses Mamoru had given her sat in the vase neatly arranged to take advantage of their beauty. Her hand unconsciously reached to touch a petal, but the pain of his words fill her head and she draws back. "I'm not ready that's all..Not ready yet." she thought walking from her room. "Come on Luna.." ----------------- -----Towers International Hotel 11:55 a.m. Lobby Usagi glanced at her watch again, wondering where her companion was. She had awakened an hour earlier to beat the rush hour traffic hoping he would be there to meet her. She cursed to herself knowing from experience that she should have taken her time. The bell from the elevators rang again, as another car arrived and departed. She exhaled and began tapping her foot impatiently. This was not how she planned to start her afternoon. Her eyes returned to her watch. 12:04 p.m. "Usa!" Finally she thought. "Are you ready?" she said sincerely. "Stop pretending to be nice." he said grinning. "I know I am late." "Don't worry about it right now...I can rub it in later..." The smile on his face disturbed him. She had to say, "rub it in". Usa has never let me forget how my boasting gets me in trouble. An annoying habit he has found though over the years, oddly attractive. "Guess where we are going." she said holding back an apparent giggle as they walked to her car. "I know that laugh..I don't think I want to know..." She tossed her loose hair behind her and smiled. "An old friend of mine is a Shinto priestess at a shrine in my neighborhood. I thought I should visit her while you get used to the atmosphere." "I can always count on you to find the best spots to relax." She shifted the car from park to reverse. "Well hey, I am tired too. Why not relax the nerves before wrecking them..." ----------------- ----Temple "Usa..oh my look at how "big" you have gotten..Two years is a long time not to see a friend." Usagi held onto her friend tightly. Unable to speak. Rei had been the one other person she trusted with the secret about her and Mamoru. Before she departed, Usagi visited the temple unable to leave home without telling someone about her "accident" with Mamoru. Anger had been Rei's first reaction, but after noticing Usagi's calm composure. She realized that she had forgiven him. Rei strived to do the same. "Usa how are you...are you better?. Did you talk to a counselor?" Kevin smiled. He knew that Usagi was having a hard time with memories and emotions colliding with each other. He motioned to her that he would be all right as she took a quick glance at him. Usagi wiped away her tears. "Where did they come from?" she thought. "Let's go inside and talk about it." Rei lead her towards a small area near a few newly planted trees. The young trees circled a small man-made pond . "This area was added sometime after you left. I can relax here." Usagi nodded at the comment. "It does feel serene." She felt Rei's grab her hand and lead her to a small stone bench. Rei waited till Usagi was comfortable before she spoke "It's been along time, Usa-chan." "Two years is not a long time." "So why are you here, I know you break is not that long. Did your mother threaten you ?" Usagi laughed. "Oh no, Mina finally convinced me to come home for a while. I guess it was about time. I think I have already worried my father by taking classes in the Summer when I could have come home to rest." "I think you made us all worried. But I understand." Rei said smiling. "I am finding this *you* interesting Usa. I mean when you left you were well bubbly and sweet. You are now well...." Usagi cocked her head and looked at Rei curiously. "Well..?" "You have this attitude now. Not rude but it sends off a different signal." "Oh, I have had too many experiences with obnoxious males to be that old trusting Usa-chan again." Rei frowned. "Oh..I guess bad experiences can change you." "You just don't know how it can, Rei." she thought after Rei spoke. "So, have you seen Mamoru-san?" she asked smiling briefly. "Ever since you left, he has spent hours here and at a local counseling center trying to understand why you left and how his behavior had been during your last weeks here." she paused and touched Usagi's hand. "You see after you left...he began to believe that he had driven you away and caused a slow destruction of your relationship. He has been in counseling for these last two years." Usagi hung her head. She didn't want to here this. Mamoru was out of her life now. She was trying to move on. "He has been praying that you would come back to him. Give him a chance to start over and this time listen to your wishes as well as his." "Rei, Why are you telling me all this...?" She exhaled slowly. "He wanted me to share all of this with you if you returned. He thought that if you knew, you would be more willing to attempt a relationship again." "I don't know Rei.." "Usa please, I have seen a change. Give him a chance...you might.." Usagi quickly rose to her feet, you just don't uncdertand Rei. Everytime I see him I hear him yelling at me lifting me off the ground and ..and....I can't. I'm sorry Rei." Rei hugged her friend. "I understand. But maybe if you start over, those fears will go away." "Maybe." ---------------------------- Let me know what you guys think... Asuka - egace@hotmail.com