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The Way
By Sailor Jes

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Phase Two
Declarations

All right, this will be my last piece of fanfiction for a while. (I'll be in New York for six weeks.) Hopefully, I can have Phase Three out after that.

The usual disclaimer applies. Characters belong to Naoko-sensei, Toei, Kodansha, etc. But my story belongs to me, and if you want to post it please ask me first!

Thanks,

Jessi
e-mail: Sailor Jes@aol.com (don't forget to write)

- - -

*Misery,* wrote Tsukino Usagi in her diary during lunch, *is knowing Chiba Mamoru.* She sat under a tree and looked up in disgust at the soccer game underway. Maybe she wouldn't have been so bitter if the number-one jerk wasn't doing so well. Then again, Usagi didn't know that he excelled at many of the things he did. He was a top student (second in his class), an incredible athlete, and "the cutest boy at Juuban" according to one of his googly-eyed admirers that had just walked by. All of the girls wanted him and all of the boys wanted to be him. And it made Usagi want to puke. Were they all blind? Couldn't they see he was a heartless zero? Thrilled cheers caused Usagi to glance up from her page to see that Mamoru had just scored a goal. Oh, joy! His teammates slapped him on his back and girls on the sidelines jumped up and down and squealed in delight. Usagi rolled her eyes and shoved some more sushi into her mouth.

"Tsukino-san?"

Glancing upwards, Usagi found herself in the presence of two girls: one with short blue hair and blue eyes and the other, the one who had just spoken, a tall brunette with green eyes. Usagi gazed up inquisitively.

"Um...Tsukino-san-"

"Usagi, please."

"Okay, Usagi, I'm Kino Makoto-"

"And I'm Mizuno Ami-," added the girl with blue hair.

Makoto smiled. "We're in your class. Um, we just wanted to say welcome to Juuban and we're sorry that your first day here had to be so unpleasant."

For the first time all day, Usagi smiled genuinely. "Sit, please," she said. Her new friends sat down beside her on the fresh green grass. "Thanks for checking on me. It's nice to know some people in this place aren't morons." The hateful gaze directed towards a certain soccer player did not go unnoticed by the two girls.

"You mean Mamoru, I take it?" asked Ami.

"How'd you guess?" commented Usagi dryly.

"He's really not that bad, Usagi-chan," said Makoto.

Usagi narrowed her eyes at her new friend. "Oh, so are you a member of his fan club, too?"

Mako blushed furiously and Ami laughed. "No, no. Mako-chan had her sights set on his best friend whose seat you now sit in. He moved away."

"Ami..." said Makoto with much embarrassment.

"As for me," continued the blue haired girl, "The only men in my life are Einstein and Shakespeare."

Smiling, Usagi replied, "You're an intellect?"

"Not an intellect, a genius," filled in Makoto before Ami could get a word in edgewise. "She's top in our class."

It was Ami's turn to blush but Usagi was impressed. "Amazing! It's not everyday you meet a genius. When I was-"

But Usagi couldn't finish because a stray soccer ball had rolled her way. She looked at it and then looked up to see a boy, tall, handsome, and adorned in a devilish grin, approaching her.

"Hey, could you pass that here...Odango," he said, adding in the nickname for effect.

Then, Usagi heard snickers, chuckles, and even huge bouts of laughter from the children in the school yard...at her expense. She could feel her temper igniting. Clenching her jaw, Usagi stared at Mamoru with a look that would freeze lava, picked up the ball, and with an eerie calmness began walking towards him. She stopped when their bodies were no more than a foot apart. Softly, threateningly, Usagi gazed up in his eyes.

"I told you not to ever, *ever* call me that again," she muttered.

The with all of the force her body could muster, she slammed the hard soccer ball into an unsuspecting Mamoru's stomach, causing the wind to be knocked clear from his body. He doubled over and moaned in pain as Usagi stood there looking over him, her arms folded across her chest. A collective gasp escaped from everyone in the school yard. Around Mamoru a crowd began gathering.

"Mamoru-kun, are you all right?" "Give him air!!" "Such an aggressive girl!" "What happened?"

Makoto and Ami ran to the side of their friend. "What did you do, Usagi-chan?" Ami asked frantically.

Usagi didn't speak. Angry tears were welling up in her eyes. Again she let that horrible boy get the best of her!! Why did he produce such reactions from her?

"What's going on here? Clear the way!"

Like Moses parting the Red Sea, Principal Uematsu divided the mass of people who silently began staring at the soap opera that was unfolding. He seemed concerned when he saw Mamoru clutching his stomach with one hand and coughing.

"What has happened?" the principal demanded of Usagi.

Swallowing the lump of fear rising in her throat, she tried to ignore the hateful stares of everyone around her as she began speaking to the principal.

"*He* called me a name after I told him not to, so I threw this soccer ball in his stomach."

Some children narrowed their eyes at Usagi, some snickered, and some even cheered a bit. Uematsu simply glowered at this impertinent girl.

"We do not encourage violence here, Tsukino-san! And on your first day! You should feel ashamed!! Come with me to my office so that we can discuss proper consequences!"

Fear and regret filled Usagi's eyes but she attempted to conceal it, to show that she was in control. However, the fright and worry did not pass by one person so easily and he became consumed with guilt.

"Uematsu-san, wait!" cried Mamoru.

Raising an eyebrow, the fat principal stopped and looked quizzically at the boy who had just recovered his breath. "Yes, young man?"

"Uematsu-san, I accept full responsibility. I started this whole argument foolishly and it is I who should suffer the consequences. Please don't blame Tsukino-san."

"Huh?" said Principal Uematsu, Usagi, and the rest of the kids in the school yard.

The bald, fat principal considered what he had just been told for a long, anxious moment. "Well, in light of that, Mamoru, I suppose I cannot hold Tsukino-san in full responsibility. Because I like the both of you, I will let you get off this time with a warning. But this is the final time, understood?"

"Yes, Uematsu-san," both mumbled.

The principal began walking away. "And maybe you two can apologize, ne?"

And then he was gone. The crowd remained silent as Usagi and Mamoru stared at each other. Mamoru held out his hand.

"What do you say? Can we be friends? Can you accept my apology?"

Usagi glanced from his outstretched hand back up to his apprehensible face. For a fleeting second, she considered the possibility of a friendship but then she heard his voice echoing "Odango" through her mind and all of the laughter that followed. Rage spilled into every chamber of her heart and hardened it.

"No," was all she said.

Then, she turned and pushed her way through the stunned crowd. No one said anything as they watched this too-proud girl march back to the tree she had been sitting under. Voices and laughter and noise resumed and lunchtime continued as usual.

But not for the girl with long blonde hair tied up in a red bow. As the people dispersed, she gazed from the new girl marching away to Mamoru being led back towards the game with a twinkle in her blue eyes, a devilish smile on her lips, and a crazy idea in her head. For Aino Minako was excellent at what she did. She knew a good opportunity when she saw one. But this was nearly perfect.


Usagi trudged home from school alone and lonely. She couldn't wait to get home and flop on her bed and sob her eyes out. Well, it really wouldn't be *home.* Home was far away; this was just some house she happened to be living in. God, how she hated it here! Everything seemed so cold, so unfriendly. Nothing seemed as it should. When she had first seen him, Usagi thought she could have found a friend in Mamoru. He seemed like some one who she could identify with. Ha! That's a laugh! She had become angry simply thinking about him again.

"Usagi-chaaaaaannnnnnn," called a feminine voice from behind Usagi. She turned around to see a girl with long blonde hair running towards her. The girl beamed as she slowed to a halt besides Usagi. *She looks a lot like me,* thought Usagi.

"Hi," the girl said. "I'm Aino Minako. We're in the same class."

"Nice to meet you Aino-san. I'm Tsukino Usagi."

"Call me Minako. Aino sounds too grown-up. Yeah, I know you're Usagi. You're the talk of the whole school, you know. Nobody's ever done anything like that. And especially to a kind of guy like Mamoru-kun."

"Tsk," commented Usagi. "He deserved it, that big loser."

Minako laughed uncomfortably. "Oh, well, he's really not that bad."

"So I've heard," muttered Usagi.

"Actually," Minako began, "I think he's very handsome. And smart. And funny. And-"
Usagi stopped dead in her tracks and glared at this new girl. "If you're another member of his entourage who's come to tell me how great he is and how I should really get to know him, I don't need to hear it and I suggest you leave."

The other blonde girl's jaw dropped. "N-No, it's nothing like that, Usagi-chan."

"Then what is it?"

"Listen, I'm very good at what I do. My success rate is phenomenal. I can't really explain it, I guess I just have a knack for these kinds of things. Anyways, I have this powerful feeling about you-hmmm, maybe it's your aura or whatever, but I just know-"

"What? I'm not following exactly what you do."

"Usagi-chan, I fix people up. You know boyfriend-girlfriend type deals."

Now Usagi's jaw dropped.

"Let me finish," pleaded Minako. "I've never had such a overwhelming feeling like this before. You and Mamoru would make the most perfect couple!"

"Me!! And *Mamoru*!! But-but couldn't you *see* what happened today? I can't *stand* him. And I'm sure the feeling is mutual."

Mianko smiled. "You know what they say: 'There's a thin line of love in hate.'"

Raising an eyebrow, Usagi said "Don't you mean there's a thin line between love and hate?"

High and loud, Minako erupted in laughter. "Whatever. So what do you say?"

"I don't think so," Usagi answered, shaking her head. "Your little aura was off this time. Sorry. I'll see you tomorrow. It was nice meeting you."

Minako seemed disappointed. "Wait, Usagi-chan!"

Usagi turned once more.

"How about lunch tomorrow, then?" Mianko asked.

Usagi's face broke out into a radiant grin. "Okay, thanks. I'll see you!"

"Bye! See you!" called Minako. She sighed when Usagi disappeared from view. This was going to be tricky.

"But I'm up for the challenge!! I, Aino Minako, will bring love to everyone!" she shouted proudly, raising her arms in the air triumphantly. When she realized she was getting horrified stares, she slowly lowered them, blushed a thousand shades of pink, lowered her head, and began walking home.


The next day at school, when Usagi entered her classroom, the busy chatter ceased and what seemed like a million pairs of eyes stared at her. She lowered her gaze and walked to her seat. She knew what they were all thinking, what they had all been talking about. Mamoru was there in his seat already, laughing with a bunch of his friends. But when Usagi approached her desk the other boys backed away and gawked silently from Usagi to Mamoru.

"Usagi-chan!!" cried Minako, as she skipped her way towards the new girl's desk and fortunately, released her from an uncomfortable situation. "Good morning!!"

Usagi smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. "Good morning. Are we still on for lunch today?" she asked.

"Definitely!"

The bell rang then and the children began shuffling quickly to their desks, awaiting their teacher.

"I'll talk to you later, okay?" whispered Minako.

Usagi nodded and got out her notebook and pencil and listened to two girls in front of her discussing something.

"Are you ready for the test today?" asked one.

"I hope so! I studied really hard! Almost until midnight," answered the other.

Test! Usagi wasn't prepared for a test! She didn't even know which class this was since she hadn't been here yesterday for first or second periods.

"Um, excuse me," she said softly, tapping the girl in front of her's shoulder.

The girl turned her head and gave Usagi a half-condescending, half-frightened look. "Yes?"

"Um, can you possibly tell me what class this is?"

The girl appeared surprised. "This is Japanese Literature. And there's a test today."

"Thank you."

Darn!! Usagi exhaled loudly and from the corner of her eye saw Mamoru smiling snidely. *He's too proud. Well, if he thinks I'm going to let him feel that way, he's got another thing coming!* thought Usagi. The teacher walked in the room, called roll, and then began handing out the tests. As he got to Usagi's desk he said "You must be Tsukino Usagi. I've already heard a lot about you-"

Usagi blushed. She could imagine what they had been saying in teacher's lounge.

"-I'd like you to take this test so I can see where you stand. Is that all right?"
Usagi nodded. "That's fine," she said, as she was handed a test paper. Butterflies erupted in her stomach.

She read the first problem and her eyes grew wide as the corners of her lips turned upwards. This was the material her class had finished covering when she had left her old school!! She could do this!

*Ha, ha, Mamoru. Who's laughing now?*

Furiously, Usagi scribbled her answers down on her paper and turned in her test first. Her teacher gave her a strange look when she handed him the paper completed and all.

"Finished already, Tsukino-san?"

"Yes, sir," she said, as she strode back to her seat, smiling and confidant that she would beat Mamoru at his own game.


Lunch wasn't as lonely for Usagi as it was the day before. Minako proved to be a likable girl. She reminded Usagi of herself a lot. Very bubbly, outgoing, friendly, and always ready with a smile for everybody. And, boy, was she popular. Dozens of girls would walk by and make small talk with her and tell her jokes and stories. However, some gave Minako looks that said "Why are you hanging out with this new nobody-of-a-person?" Still, Usagi felt somewhat honored that Minako had wanted to eat lunch with her. But then, she felt a tad wary of her, knowing of yesterday's proposition. During a slower time, when there weren't three or four girls chatting away with the two of them-well, Minako rather, as none of the girls had particularly taken a liking to Usagi because of yesterday's confrontation with their idol-Usagi heard two voices from a distance calling her name.

"Usagi-chan, Usagi-chan!!"

She looked to see Makoto and Ami running towards her, smiling broadly. Panting, they slowed to halt and smiled stiffly at Minako.

"I didn't know you three were friends," said Minako.

"Well, we met yesterday," Usagi said.

Usagi noticed that Mako and Ami seemed rather uncomfortable in the presence of Minako and vice versa.

"Did you want to tell me something?" Usagi asked, breaking the awkward silence.

Again, Makoto and Ami beamed. "We want to show you something. Come with us," said Mako.

Usagi raised an eyebrow and sat up. She motioned for Minako to come as well and all four girls began running towards the school building.

"Do you know Ami and Mako well?" Usagi asked Minako, as they were jogging behind the other two girls.

"We're classmates but that's pretty much it," responded Minako. "We're parts of different crowds."

"Oh," was all Usagi could say. She supposed Minako was the type who went out after school every day to eat ice cream or go to the arcade while Ami and Makoto were the types that kept to themselves and didn't really hang out with the "in" crowd. Usagi saw a little of herself in each situation. When they entered, she noticed a crowd around a bulletin board. Ami grabbed her hand and pushed her way through the mass of people so that Usagi could see what was written on this coveted board. Some students smiled at her. One said "Congratulations."

"Look," Mako said.

Usagi's mouth formed into a smile when she saw what was on the board. She had gotten a 98!! Third to only Ami and one other person.

"And without studying either," she heard a girl whisper.

"Incredible," commented a boy. "That's nearly impossible in Yamaka-sensei's class."

"That's fantastic, Usagi-chan!" Minako cheered. "You'll have to study with me one day!"

But Usagi didn't seem as pleased anymore. In fact, she seemed downright disgusted. And the person standing beside her seemed shocked. She and Mamoru both stared coldly at the scoreboard. They had gotten the exact same score. Yet, due to his last name, he ranked higher than Usagi, coming in second place. The students fell silent. They knew they were witnessing something, they just didn't know what exactly. Only later, in retrospect, would they discover that it was to be the most heated rivalry Juuban High had ever seen. Usagi and Mamoru turned and walked away, in opposite directions.


*What a difference a test makes,* thought Usagi after lunch. This time when she entered the class she was met with warm smiles and words of congratulations. Her classmates didn't stare at her so much either. Proudly, she walked to her desk and was about to sit when she found a folded note on her chair. Opening it, Usagi read:

Tsukino-san,

Congratulations on your test! It's really amazing that you got such an excellent score and without even studying. And it's only your second day! I studied my butt off last night to simply get the score you did. Anyways, I believe we got off to the wrong start. I am truly sorry for calling you Odango and won't do it again. Let's be friends please.

Humbly yours,
Chiba Mamoru

Usagi stared at the note, with its immaculate handwriting (in perfect kanji and everything), for a few seconds. Glancing up, she found an apologetic-looking Mamoru sitting on top of his desk. And she also discovered her heart to be thundering away in her ribcage. Cursing herself, she pleaded with her body to quit these abnormal reactions. Then, staring at him as indifferently as she could, she held the note in between the thumb and index fingers of both hands and then ripped it in half. And she ripped those in half. And then wadded them up into a ball, aimed at the garbage can in the front of the room, shot, and made a three-pointer. All the while, Mamoru glared at her.

"Fine," he muttered. "I've been sorry long enough. I won't be anymore."

He hopped off of his desk and went over to a group of girls, smiled cunningly, and proceeded to talk and flirt horribly. Something in Usagi's heart twinged. Maybe she should have accepted his apology. He seemed so sincere. Her thoughts were interrupted as her Trigonometry teacher entered the class, clapped his hands, and waited for the class to be seated.

"Let's cover last night's homework, shall we?" he said. "I'll go down the rows and you shall give me the answers."

The class proceeded, reading out their answers. Finally, it was Mamoru's turn.

"Cosine of 45 degrees," he stated assuredly.

"Correct. Next?"

Usagi's turn. And, unfortunately, math wasn't her subject.

"Uh, tangent of 30 degrees?" she asked more than stated.

"I'm sorry. Can anybody tell us the right answer?"

He was surprised at his reaction, but Mamoru felt vindicated. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Usagi bowing her head in embarrassment and defeat. Normally, Mamoru would have had some sympathy, but somehow he was too bitter to even muster up an ounce of pity. He even decided that this open wound called for a little salt. He raised his hand and volunteered the right answer.

"Correct," the teacher said. "You're on a roll today Chiba-kun."

Mamoru flashed a dazzling smile. "Thank you."

So agile that no one else would have noticed it, he winked at the Rabbit-girl sitting next to him. If looks could kill, Mamoru would have been on the floor minus a heartbeat thanks to Usagi. *Next time,* she thought. *Next time I'll beat him!*


But the "next times" always came and went. For the remainder of the year, Usagi and Mamoru were always neck and neck. A higher score in Social Studies for Usagi was always greeted by a greater score in Physics for Mamoru. The cruel hands of fate would have them matched up in physical education for a 100 meter dash in which Mamoru always turned out champion but Usagi would bounce right back in debate class and blow him out of the water. It seemed one's faults balanced out the other's weaknesses.

All the while, the classmates would whisper to each other:

"I don't see why they hate each other; they're almost exactly alike."

Or: "They fit each other like pieces of a puzzle."

Or even: "They were made for each other."

But no one ever dared say this to Usagi or Mamoru. Like the Superbowl or the World Series, their fellow students simply sat back and enjoyed watching an excellent rivalry. So this was how the rest of the second year of high school was played out. The tug-of-war game ended in the same manner as it had begun: with no clear victor. The students supposed in would be decided next year in entrance exams for universities. In the meantime, all, including Usagi and Mamoru, intended on enjoying their summer before engaging in the hardest year of education they had ever seen.

- - -

Look for Phase Three in about six weeks...