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The Way
By Sailor Jes

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Phase Three
Blitzkrieg

Hi, minna!! This is version 2.0 of this phase. The only thing different about it is an error I made in the very beginning (just where Usagi is talking to Naru.) Just a note about this section and basically everything after it: I have taken ENORMOUS liberties for the sake of my plot. Initially, I wanted to write a fanfic as accurate to the Japanese high school experience as possible. However, upon further research, I realize that I have to sacrifice either A)my cherished storyline, or B)accuracy, and since this is purely fiction and I am the creator of my little story, I figured "Who needs accuracy when they have a poetic license'!!" (tee hee)

Some culture notes will follow st the end of this phase if you have not a clue about the Japanese educational system.

Jaa ne!
Jessi

- - -
"War is like love, it always finds a way."
-Bertolt Brecht
- - -

Year 3, Class 2 was buzzing with excitement on the first day of school. Thirty-something teenagers were swapping tales of summer adventures and laughing happily with the friends they hadn't seen for three months.* Most were giddy with the power of finally being the "senpai's"* of the school. In the back of the room, three girls stood in a cluster chatting excitedly.

"This is going to be the best year, guys!" Mianko cheered. "I can't wait to meet some fine-looking' guy and fall in love and get married!"

Ami and Mako chuckled.

"I don't think marriage so soon would be appropriate, Minako-chan," commented Ami.

"Besides," added Makoto, "What happened to the guy at the beach? I thought you were going to marry him!"

Mianko shook her head. "Nah, I've decided that you can have him."

"Gee, thanks," Mako answered dryly.

"Well, what about that boy at the arcade?" asked Ami.

"He's not my type. Besides he was Usagi's man. Remember when he gave her that dried, old flower?"

The girls burst out laughing.

"And then the face she made!" added Mako. They laughed harder.

Ami giggled: "I loved it when we were in the park and we saw him again and had to run from him!"

By now, the girls were laughing so hard they were crying. Finally, their peals of joy subsided.

"That was a great summer," said Ami.

"Yeah," replied Minako. "I'm really glad I got to know you both."

Mako nodded. "We just clicked, didn't we?"

"Yeah, thanks to Usagi," said Ami. "If it weren't for her, I think this would have been my dullest summer."

"Too bad she isn't in our class," sighed Mianko. "How can we be the 'Fab Four' without her?"

They shrugged. It certainly was a shame that Usagi wasn't in their class. Meanwhile outside of Class 1, Usagi was reading a letter she had received from her friend back home, Naru. The long epistle told her how Naru and another boy in her class, Umino, had fallen in love, and how he was the one for her, and how she couldn't wait until after graduation to get married blaa, blaa, blaa. Usagi had no time to think of love. Her last year inhigh school would be spent doing work, work, and more work so she could get into a great university. Usagi, not really wanting to read more of how her best friend had found the "love of her life" folded up the note and began sticking it in her bag.

Twisted up, fumbling through her bag, not really looking where she was going, Usagi crashed head-on into someone attempting to exit the classroom.

"Oh, my gosh! I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, bowing repeatedly. That is, until she caught a glimpse of the person she had collided with. The look on her face morphed from surprise to disgust. Attempting to appear indifferent, Usagi raised her eyebrows up snobbishly at Mamoru and strode past him. She had been jolted, however. The summer had done wonders for him and his handsome face seemed more delectable than ever. His skin had tanned to a nice, golden hue which brought out the whiteness of his teeth and blueness of his eyes. Usagi cursed her beating heart and rotten luck. Mamoru's emotions weren't prevalent on his often-stoic features, but he was just as shocked as Usagi. First, there was her reaction to him, hopelessly apologetic and sweet until she had realized just who she was dealing with. Then her demeanor became as frigid as the Arctic. He couldn't figure her out. On top of that confusion was also the fact that Mamoru, who had not seen or even thought of Usagi for three glorious months, was surprised to see that *something* had taken place under the summer sun. Had her legs ever been that long and tan before? Her hair that shiny? Her eyes that sparklingly vibrant? He watched as she made her way to a seat in the middle of the class. Just then the bell rang and he made sure to find a seat as far removed from her as possible.

Their teacher, Takano-sensei, a short middle-aged woman, entered the classroom a few seconds later and wished the students a good morning.

"I hope everyone's summer was an enjoyable one because this year will be the most difficult year in your education. Entrance Exams* for universities are fast approaching and we expect immaculate results. At Juuban we take these exams very seriously. As most of you know, we award the top-scoring student from each third year class at the commencement ceremonies and, if you work hard enough any of you will be able to receive this Achievement Award.*"

Achievement Award? This certainly piqued Usagi's interest. She could envision herself walking up on the stage and recieving that award at graduation. Her family would be so proud! She resolved there, at that very moment, that that award was her calling, her goal for her last year.

"Over the course of the day," continued Takano-sensei, "You all will be taking a diagnostic exam-"

Loud groans emitted from the students.

"-which will determine where you stand and what you need to do to prepare adequately for this test. What I have always done with my class is formulate pairs, a study team as I like to call it. Study teams should meet at least once a week and a percentage of your grade in this class depends on the improvement in your test scores and an evaluation from your partner. Have I made myself clear?"

The class droned a dull affirmative. These students did not want to think of hard work. And on the first day of school! However, each tried their hardest on the diagnostic exam in an attempt to get the best scores they could. The results were posted the following day and they weren't met with much anticipation or joy.

"Looks like I'm going to be a housewife."
"I might as well quit now."
"*This* is why I need to study every night."

These were just some of the downhearted comments heard from the cluster of third year teens. Once in class, Takano-sensei addressed her students.

"Based on the scores you all have recieved, I have paired each of you up in your study teams. I tried to create pairs where one person's weakness is the other's strength and vise versa. Remember, you each must study at least once a week and I demand to see improvements. Alright...the first study team...Akari-kun and Yamamoto-san..."

After a pair of names were called, the two study partners would nod or smile at each other. Some were so pleased with their partner they would clap or utter a "yes" under their breath. Finally she got to Usagi's name.

"...Tsukino-san and..."

Usagi held her breath and prayed she would get somebody smart. "...Chiba-kun..."

Upon hearing the second name, Usagi's eyes bugged out and Mamoru's jaw dropped. Most of the class, knowing of the ongoing rivalry held their breaths in anticipation of what might come. They weren't let down.

"What!?!" exclaimed Usagi.

"Tsukino-san, do you have a problem?" Takano-sensei asked dryly.

"Yes! I-I can't work with-with *him*!" she spat, stressing the "him" as if it were a dirty word.

Mamoru glowered at Usagi and tsked loudly.

"Well, Tsukino-san, unfortunately you'll have to learn how to work with Chiba-kun because if you don't you'll fail."

A sick feeling washed over Usagi and she thought she would either vomit all over herself or burst into tears. Now she would never receive the Achievement Award, Mamoru would make sure of that. She probably wouldn't even get into a University! Or graduate for that matter! The shame would be unbearable! Before she could scream or sob or throw up all over the place, Usagi buried her face in her arms and remained that way from homeroom until lunch.


Minako, Makoto, and Ami had quite the job during lunch break attempting to subside Usagi's sobs. It seemed like her tears were never-ending.

"I (sniffle, sniffle) hate him (sniffle) so *much*!!" she hollered. "I won't work with him. I refuse!"

"Usagi-chan, listen," Makoto said, putting one hand on each of her friend's shoulders. "It isn't a question of 'you won't' or 'you can't.' You *have* to! You've got to just grin and bear it."

Usagi sniffled some more and pouted.

"Besides, Usagi-chan, Mamoru can probably help you more than he can hurt you," Ami added. "All of your weaknesses are his strengths. Just keep that in mind. All you have to do is get knowledge out of him. It's not like you're getting married!"

Minako grinned slyly upon hearing her blue-haired companion mention exactly what was going on in her thoughts. Scenes only fit to be in a romance novel were playing through her mind. This could work! They might fall in love! Cross that ever-so-fine line from hate to love! The notion was just too romantic and tempting for Mianko. She couldn't wait to see where this was headed.


*Straight to hell,* Mamoru thought, after the second study session in a row had bombed. *This is heading straight to hell.* The first episode began after school of the same day. Usagi, after gaining a smidgen of her pride and composure back, strode up to Mamoru, who was conversing with a group of other boys. The conversation died as they saw the girl approaching. All stared at Mamoru and Usagi.

"Meet me in the library tomorrow after school at 4:30," Usagi commanded and then began to walk away.

"Wait just a second," Mamoru replied. "You're just demanding I be there without asking? And what if I can't make it?"

Usagi rolled her eyes and folded her arms across her chest. "Alright, when is good for you?"

"4:30 tomorrow sounds fine. I just wish you would consult me first."

Usagi groaned frustratedly, muttered something under her breath, and marched haughtily away.

"Of all the people in the class, I had to get stuck with Princess Odango," grumbled Mamoru.

Urawa, a boy in Mamoru's class, shook his head. "You're lucky, Mamoru. You just don't realize it."

He arched one black eyebrow itimidatingly. "Yeah? How so? Gimme three good reasons why I'm lucky."

"Well, first of all," began Amuro, one of Mamoru's friends who was in Class 2. "Usagi's the smartest girl in your class."

Mamoru shrugged. "She's not so great in math or science."

"Not as great as you, Mamoru-kun, but then we can't all be," said ** jokingly.

"Second, she's got initiative. You probably won't have to lift a finger. She'll do all of the work for you!" added Umino.

"And three," said Hirai, who was a year under them, "Just look at her! I don't think I'd be able to concentrate if my study partner looked that good!"

The groups of boys laughed and affirmed what Hirai had said. Simply rolling his eyes, Mamoru couldn't believe what he had just heard and began walking away.

"You guys disgust me," he said. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye!" "See you!" called his friends.


At 4:43 the next day, Usagi found Mamoru sitting at a table in the library, a short stack of books already accumulated. He was propping his head up on both hands and intently delving into a book of some sort. She was sure she wouldn't hear the end of it for being late. As if he knew she was coming, Mamoru, without even glancing up, dryly said:

"Nice of you to join me."

Usagi dropped her books on the table with a dull thud. "Always a pleasure," she bit back.

He gazed up at her with those chilling blue eyes that daunted so many. She met his stare with as much frost and then some.

"Let's get down to business," she said, sitting across from him. "What shall we study first?"

"I was thinking English," he answered.

"What about Algebra instead?" Usagi countered, reaching for her thick, Algebra book.

"Whoa," Mamoru said as he reached across the table and stopped her hand with his own. "I though *you* asked *me* what I wanted to study. Are we going to review what you're not good at so that you can do all of the improving?"

Usagi raised her eyebrows. "What!? I never suggested anything of the sort!"

"Well you asked me what I wanted to go over and I said English so what can't we study English?"

Proudly raising her chin a bit, Usagi answered: "Well, I didn't bring my English book."

Opening his mouth to say something but then realizing she had a point, Mamoru felt a tad embarrassed. "Okay, well then what books did you bring?" he asked taking the stack of books in front of the girl sitting opposite of him. "Algebra. Physics. Chemistry. Trigonometry. Just as I suspected. You think you're going to be reaping all of the benefits from this partnership!"

"I do not!" she replied loudly, receiving a few angry stares and some "shushes." She gazed around apologetically and lowered her voice to a sharp whisper. "Well, what did you have in mind? That we study English and Vocabulary and History the whole time and I get left behind in your dust."

"At least I brought books for other subjects besides the ones I need help with!"

"If all you're going to do is accuse me this entire study session, then I'm leaving! I have better things to do than be persecuted like someone in the Salem Witch Trials! But, then again, you probably wouldn't know about that would you?" she spat, half-regretting the words once they had escaped her lips.

Mamoru said nothing. Rather, he seemed to contract into some invisible shell. Picking up the book he was reading before she had arrived, Mamoru gave her the "evil eye" before muttering a cool "Good bye" and began reading. Stunned and disgusted, Usagi grabbed her things and strode away from the table. The time, she noticed on her way out, was 4:47. They hadn't even lasted more than five minutes.

When he opened his locker the next day, Mamoru found a small slip of paper folded in half. He opened it and began reading:

Tomorrow. Same time. Same place. Bring your English book.

Usagi

He stared at the laconic note, with its girlish cursive written in pink ink. A complete oxymoron. Princess Usagi's commanding "initiative" was beginning to annoy him.


This time, Usagi was the first to arrive at the library. Mamoru found her at the same table, scribbling furiously in a notebook. She rested her forehead on the tips of her fingers which were propped up by an elbow. Frustration was apparent from the quick sudden ripping and crumpling of the paper from its notebook. Just as she looked up, her eyes caught Mamoru's and her cheeks colored just a bit like a child caught lifting the lid to the cookie jar. Quickly, she closed the notebook and straightened a bit. Mamoru walked to the table and sat down. Exhaling, he made a promise to himself to try to keep this study session civil.

"I'm here," he said, pulling out the chair and sitting.

Raising a single eyebrow, Usagi replied sarcastically: "I'm overjoyed. You're late."

"*You* were late last time," Mamoru said, a tinge of irritation apparent in his voice.

"Not by almost half-an-hour!" retorted Usagi.

Counting to ten in his head so that he wouldn't explode, Mamoru finally managed a saccharine smile and replied "Sorry, Princess."

Both of Usagi's eyebrows shot up. "What did you call me?"

"What? Oh, you mean 'Princess?' I'd be flattered if someone called me Princess."

"You didn't exactly mean it in the nicest way," she said. "Listen, I'm not going to let you get to me today. I need to do well on Entrance Exams. If you're going to keep acting like a two-year old, be my guest but if you want to work then get out your English book and let's go."

Mamoru was a bit stunned. "Okay...I also want to do well, you know. It's not like I don't care. I have an Achievement Award to be receiving."

Usagi snorted and muttered "Yeah right" under her breath.

"What?" Mamoru asked defensively.

"I said 'yeah right.' You'll never get that Award."

"And why not?"

"Because I'll be getting it."

Mamoru laughed cynically. "Do you really think you can win that?"

"I think I stand an excellent chance," Usagi replied matter-of-factly.

"Well good luck because a nice percentage of the test is math and science."

Usagi narrowed her eyes. "So?"

"So!?" Mamoru repeated. "So, you can't do them!"

"Excuse me? May I remind you of your sentence in English today? 'I watches sky.' Your kanji needs a lot of work! And you probably can't even find Japan on the map! You just remember those things when I'm up on that stage receiving the Achievement Award!"

"Do you have anything else to say?" asked Mamoru coolly.

For Usagi, this was the last straw. "I do!" she yelled, banging her hands against the desk. "I can't believe you get the grades you do or have the all of the friends and adorers you have! You're heartless! They can't see it but I do! You haven't said one decent thing to me since I've met you. Has it ever occurred to you that you're not the greatest thing to ever inhabit the planet? You might be able to get by on your looks and charm now, but good luck in the real world...*Princess.*"

She was practically screaming now and the people around her were staring at her with terrified looks on their faces. Mamoru, obviously deeply humiliated, lowered his eyebrows and his intense blue eyes boiled with loathing. He didn't say anything, but stared at Usagi with a such a look that she actually became a bit frightened. Getting up so fast that his chair toppled over with a loud crash, Mamoru grabbed his things angrily and stormed out of the library. Usagi was left embarrassed, ashamed, and alone.


On his way home, Mamoru wondered why Usagi produced the reactions from him that she did. His anger had only just begun to subside and a loss of temper from him was abnormal.

*You're heartless! They can't see it but I do!*

The words rang through his mind over and over. True, Mamoru had never considered himself sentimental. He thought revealing his emotions was a sign of a weakness. Stoic had always been the word he used to describe himself but heartless? Sighing, Mamoru tried to decipher Usagi's words. Unlike most girls, his appearance and wit took no effect over her. She formulated her opinion on something deeper, he supposed. And that intimidated, even frightened, him. Deep inside, was he really heartless? Did she see it when nobody else could? The thought disturbed him. How well did he really know himself?

In an attempt to digress from an uncomfortable thought pattern, Mamoru began thinking of a way that he and Usagi could civilly study together, if not as friends then as students both aiming for a common goal. Finally, as he slipped the key to his apartment in the keyhole, Mamoru believed he had devised an almost-ideal solution.


From down the hall, Mamoru could see Usagi with a group of about six other girls. She was laughing and speaking enthusiastically and, as Mamoru noticed as he approached her, generally acting completely opposite as she did with him. Forever an enigma. In the middle of telling a story, Usagi wondered why her friends had suddenly stopped looking at her and started looking just beyond her. The clearing of a throat answered her question. She spun around and saw Mamoru standing directly behind her. Like tarnishing silver, the gleam drained from her eyes. The expression on her face, if humanly possible, was expressionless. The guilt from the previous day canceled out the anger. The surprise canceled the disdain.

"Can I talk to you?" Mamoru asked.

"Now? I'm in the middle of something," Usagi replied, her voice low enough so that her curious friends couldn't hear the gist of what she was saying.

"All I want to know is when we can meet next," he said.

All of Usagi's friend's eyes widened with a mixture of curiosity, jealousy, and delight. Noticing this, Mamoru smiled at them before pulling Usagi a few feet away so that he could talk to her without having all of Juuban High know of their struggles.

"*That's* what you wanted to ask me?" Usagi asked, a tad irritated. "I don't know. Tomorrow, I guess. That is, if you decide you're not going to walk out again."

"I'll ignore that," Mamoru commented.

"I'll save us a table in the library," Usagi said, about to turn away.

"Actually, I was thinking we could go to your place...If that's okay?"

"What? No, I don't-"

"Listen," Mamoru said, his voice dropping just above a whisper. "The library isn't working. It's too neutral. At least if we're at your house we won't argue as much because your parents will be there. And you can't leave and I promise I won't walk out. This seems to be the only solution."

"Well, what about your place?"

Mamoru had been expecting this and had the perfect reply. "My landlord is fumigating my floor for bugs so we can't go there."

Usagi exhaled loudly. She didn't exactly want *him* seeing her bunny and moon covered bedspread or collection of stuffed animals but he had a point. The library wasn't working. "Fine, whatever. Tomorrow at my house. I'll give you directions."

The bell rang then and she just walked away shaking her head. It was a small victory for the both of them.


Mamoru stared from the address Usagi had given him to the numbers on the mailbox. The "Tsukino" sign in front of the house confirmed he had indeed found Odango's house. Swallowing his nervousness as he rang the doorbell, he wondered why he had ever suggested coming over to her house. He waited a few seconds and was greeted by a smiling woman with dark blue hair.

"Hel-lo!" she exclaimed cheerfully. "You must be Usagi's friend. Come right in, please."

"Thank you," Mamoru replied. He supposed Usagi hadn't inherited her personality from her warm, outgoing mother. Stepping into the large, comfortable house, Mamoru smelled the pungent odor of some sort of currydish mixed with...he inhaled deeply...apple pie.

"Usagi!" called her mother. No response. "USAGI!!...How did I ever get such an absentminded daughter? You can go up to her room. Up the stairs, first door on your right."

Mamoru nodded and proceeded up the stairs. Bounding down the steps was a boy about ten or eleven years old.

"You're Usagi's friend?" he asked.

Hesitating, Mamoru didn't really know what to reply. "Friend" wouldn't have been his word of choice.

"Ummm, well-"

"Oh, I get it! You're her boyfriend!" said the boy, grinning slyly. Before Mamoru could protest, the kid about-faced, barged back up the stairs, and without knocking, flung open the door on the right.

"Usagi," he sang teasingly. "Your *boyfriend's* here!"

"Huh? My boy-." Mamoru heard Usagi say. Then: "Shingo!! Get out of here and mind your own business!"

Giggling hysterically, Shingo sprinted out of the room and down the stairs. A deeply embarrassed Mamoru continued up the steps and poked his head into Usagi's room. He found her buried up to her nose in a huge armful of dirty clothes. The very pink and lacy room was not very clean, to say the least, and Mamoru could tell Usagi was doing some last-minute cleaning up. He walked in and sat down on her bed. Rabbits and moons. Just like her name. It was too cute.

"Don't make yourself too comfortable," Usagi said sarcastically, her voice muffled by the clothes. "We're studying downstairs."

"Whatever," Mamoru answered indifferently.

"Let's get one thing straight, Chiba. Just because you're in my house and in my room, doesn't mean we're friends!"

He just shrugged. Rolling her eyes, she walked over to her desk and began gathering her books from the mess that lay on the top. Mamoru took the opportunity to look around. On the dresser by her bed, he noticed an alarm clock in the shape of a bunny. Usagi sure loved playing up the rabbit theme. There were also several picture frames. Three to be exact. One square silver one contained a snapshot of Usagi, Ami, Minako, and Makoto at the beach in their swimsuits. It seemed strange to Mamoru that Usagi would be wearing such a big, beautiful grin on her face and putting bunny ears on Makoto. He never saw that sillier side of her. In a circular pink frame was a picture of her family and her in a marvelous shot of them in front of a range of purple mountains. They seemed very happy. Again, Usagi with the huge grin; her arms around her brother's shoulder and her mother's waist. And then the last, not a photograph at all, but a small watercolor painting of a girl silhouetted by the full moon. Painted in soft blues and yellows, the picture was very surreal. However, the thing that Mamoru noticed about the painting was the girl; her hair was exactly like Usagi's, up in the Odangos, but she had on a long, flowing dress.

"This is nice," Mamoru commented. "Is it you?"

Usagi turned to see what he spoke of and flushed a scarlet hue.

"Don't look at that," she commanded, striding over to the dresser and turning the picture face-down.

"What? It was a compliment!" argued Mamoru.

"Well, I don't need your compliments. Come on. Let's go downstairs."

Once downstairs, Usagi posed Mamoru a question. "What do you want to study?"

"Are you asking me for real or just hearing yourself talk?" inquired Mamoru.

"I'm asking for real this time," Usagi said.

"Well, we can study Trigonometry first and then English, I guess."

She didn't affirm the suggestion, but Mamoru assumed it was alright with her since she reached for her Trig book and folder.

"OK, Professor, show me what you're made of," she challenged.

Mamoru raised an eyebrow and opened his own book, determined to meet her challenge.


"No, no. Just think 'i' before 'e' except after 'c,'" said Usagi.

"'I' before 'e' except after 'c,'" repeated Mamoru. "Hmmm, that makes it much easier. I wonder why Smith-sensei never told us that."

Usagi shrugged. "I suppose she just thought it was over our heads. I had an American friend back at home who taught me that."

Shutting the cover to her notebook, Usagi looked at the clock. 7:42.

"It's late. I guess it's time for you to leave," Usagi said, more suggesting that he leave than simply declaring a statement.
Mamoru shrugged and looked away. "Yeah. See you tomorrow."

She didn't reply. In fact, she was already half-way out of the room. Mamoru supposed he would have to let himself out. Usagi could be so rude, he thought. As he was walking to the door, he poked to his head into the kitchen to bade Mrs. Tsukino farewell.

"Mamoru-san, you can't leave yet! I was just about to serve dinner and I made enough for you."

Mamoru's eyes widened with surprise. What was he supposed to say to this gracious, yet unwelcome, invitation? Suddenly, he heard loud footsteps bounding down the stairs and Usagi burst into the kitchen.

"Uh...no, Mama, Mamoru should be getting home. We had a hard day at school and, uh, I'm sure he, uh, wants to relax, don't you, Mamoru?"

He wasn't quite sure why he didn't just agree with her. Make a quick exit and get home to his nice cool apartment. Maybe it was that helpless, desperate look in Usagi's eyes or the fact that Mamoru wanted to take revenge for her rudeness, but suddenly he flashed his pearly whites and said, to Usagi's ultimate horror:

"Thank you, Tsukino-san, I would *love* to stay for dinner. The food smells delicious."

Usagi's mother beamed. "Oh, why thank you. Such a nice boy, Usagi, ne?"

Staring at him with a stony glare, Usagi replied flatly "No."

"Usagi! That's terribly impolite! Apologize right now," her mother demanded.

Usagi's face flushed red with embarrassment and anger but she lifted her nose in the air, attempting to keep her pride intact. She mumbled some apology under her breath before spinning on her heels and running from the kitchen.

"I apologize for her, Mamoru-san," her mother said. "I don't know what's gotten into her. She never acts like this."

"That's okay," he answered. "She's probably just had a hard day. The stress of school can really get to you."

"Yes, I suppose that's what it is. If you want to get washed up, there's a bathroom down the hall," said Mrs. Tsukino.

As he walked toward the small washroom, Mamoru brushed by Usagi who was walking back towards the kitchen. She raised her nose proudly in the air despite its blatant redness from crying. A twinge of guilt seized him. He hadn't meant to make her cry (although, unbeknownst to him, he had succeeded in doing that many times already.) Reanalyzing exactly what he was doing, Mamoru realized he shouldn't be here, didn't belong here. He rinsed his hands off but had full intentions on departing. Approaching the kitchen, Mamoru told Usagi's mother:

"I'm very sorry, Tsukino-san, I won't be able to stay for dinner after all," he said apologetically.

The woman's face fell. "Oh, alright. Maybe another-"

"No," Usagi interrupted sweetly. "Please, stay."

Mamoru's mouth fell open and the corners of Usagi's lips turned upwards in a smile that was so sly only Mamoru could have grasped it's true meaning. Something in her flashed, a resurrection of that fighting spirit. She was exacting her revenge, the weasel! Like a boxer stepping into the rink, Mamoru raised his guard.

"Al-alright," he stammered.

At that moment, a tall man with dark hair entered the kitchen.

"Hello, family," he said.

"Hi, Papa!" chimed two voices, Usagi and Shingo's.

"Hello, dear," Mrs. Tsukino said, as her husband kissed her on the cheek. "Have a nice day?"

"Yes. But it's even nicer now that I'm home," he said lovingly.

Giggling, Mrs. Tsukino announced that dinner was ready and they proceeded into the dining room.

"Papa, this is Mamoru," said Usagi.

"Nice to meet you Mamoru-san," Mr. Tsukino said. "Are you two friends from school?"

"You could say that," replied Mamoru. "We're studying for entrance exams together."

"Entrance exams already? How time flies. Usagi, I remember when you were a baby crawling around in diapers."

Usagi's face flushed slightly. "Papa, please..."

Her father smiled and laughed. "Yes, I know. You're all grown up now."

Once seated and eating, Mamoru sat back and watched Usagi incredulously. Could this have been the same person he had just been studying with? Her frigid side had melted away and she was joking, smiling, and laughing! He noticed that she had a zany personality and was somewhat of a klutz, evident by the dropping of her fork (twice) and the knocking over of the salt shaker with her elbow as she attempted to reach for more rice. And, boy, could she eat. That had been her third helping of rice!

"Tell us a little about yourself, Mamoru" Usagi's dad asked.

Usagi knew this question was coming. Her father always asked it to her new friends. She leaned forward in anticipation. Mamoru noticed this.

"Well, I like math and science and hope to become a doctor or something like that one day," he said.

Usagi's father nodded in approval. "You must be very studious and intelligent."

Mamoru smiled but before he could answer Usagi chimed in. "Oh, yes. *Very* smart. Clever, too."

Raising an eyebrow, Mamoru figured this was it. Whatever Usagi had been scheming she was carrying it out now. She continued.

"He has these *great* names for people. Really cute little nicknames. Ne, Mamoru?"

Mamoru almost choked on his meat. So this was her plan! Reveal that Mamoru was indeed a horrible person, someone who had taunted and teased their daughter cruelly with the caustic nickname "Odango!" Her parents really wouldn't like that! He had to get out of this sticky situation fast. Before Usagi could finish, Mamoru laughed and began speaking.

"Oh, yeah. I actually have a name for your daughter."

This time, Usagi seemed a bit stunned. The tables were turning...

"Oh, what is it?" asked Mrs. Tsukino innocently.

"I call her Pele. Because she's an *excellent* soccer player."

All of the color drained from Usagi's face as she remembered the "incident" Mamoru was wily referring to. *Caught in your own game,* thought Mamoru.

"*Really?*" asked Usagi's dad, obviously impressed. Usagi smiled weakly and laughed nervously.

"Well, not really," she said.

"Oh, don't be so modest," Mamoru insisted. "Would you like to hear the story of how she got it? It's actually very funny. You see, I kicked the ball to her and-oh, maybe you should tell the story, Usagi."

Usagi, eyes wide, glanced briefly at Mamoru with a look like that of a deer's in the headlights. She smiled fakely. "It's a long story. I'll tell you later, okay?"

Thankfully, Shingo began telling his parents how good *he* was at soccer to try to match up to his older sister. Appetite gone, Usagi couldn't even bear to look up. She commenced pushing her food around her plate with her fork.

Somehow, Mamoru should have felt glorified and vindicated. He didn't. It felt like Usagi still had the upper hand over him. It felt...it felt like she was rubbing her perfect family in his face. Every smile, every laugh, every sign of interest and affection stung like the lash of a whip. Mamoru knew those weren't her intentions; she didn't even know about his...his situation. He didn't belong here. Nor would he ever. Maybe he'd have liked to. It'd be nice if he had a mom and a dad and a cute brother. A delicious, homecooked meal accompanied by a rollicking conversation with people who genuinely cared for him. He happened to glance up at Usagi who caught his eyes as well. She sighed slightly and continued the shuffleboard game with her vegetables.

"May I be excused?" asked Shingo.

"Yes," replied his father. "Can you help clear the table?"

"What?! But, it's Usagi's night!" protested the boy.

"Shingo, she has a friend over. Now go. And don't argue," commanded Mrs. Tsukino.

Taking the opportunity, Usagi, without saying a word, got up and went to her room. Alone with Usagi's parents, Mamoru felt horribly uncomfortable.

"I should probably be going," he said, standing from the table. "It's late."

"Okay," Mrs. Tsukino said. "It was lovely having you. Usagi has excellent taste in her choice of friends."

"Thank you for having me. The meal was delicious," Mamoru said, and then proceeded upstairs to Usagi's room to fetch his things. As he walked in, he saw Usagi sitting on the edge of her bed, shoulders hunched over, staring at the picture of the Moon-girl. He grabbed his bookbag but as her turned to leave he heard Usagi say: "She's me."

"Huh?" he asked, turning around.

"She's me," she said, picking up the picture. "At least, I wanted to be her when I was little. A beautiful Moon maiden; a Princess maybe. At night, when I was supposed to be sleeping, I would get up and revel in my own little imaginary world where I was her. Those times, reveling in the moonlit darkness of my room, made me feel...beautiful. Just like a real Princess. It came to the point where I-I used to make my mom do my hair exactly like hers just so I could make my fantasy seem a little more...a little more real."

Mamoru stood there silently absorbing in the revealing knowledge Usagi had just shared with him.

"Which is why I became so furious with you for calling me 'Odango!'" she continued, her voice becoming hotter. "When you made fun of me, you made fun of my dreams, my ideals! And you haven't said one civil thing to me since then! Your words hurt me; you hurt me! Tonight was-was mortifying! Stop doing such embarrassing, mean, unnecessary things!"

"You seem to forget that I apologized to you!" responded Mamoru in self-defense.

"What! You mean that note! That wasn't an apology, that was an excuse! I'm a person, not the Tooth Fairy or Santa Claus! You can't just leave me a note. If you had the guts to insult me to my face, what was so hard about a lousy 'I'm sorry?'"

The hurt was so apparent on her face; her emotions the surface of a lake on a calm day. Mamoru felt guilty. Terribly, horribly guilty. It was a golden opportunity to apologize, to rectify a situation in need of rectification. But he didn't. He didn't know why, he just couldn't bring himself to utter the words Usagi wanted to hear. The two just stood there in silence. When it was apparent Mamoru would say nothing, Usagi sighed, releasing some of her anger.

"Well...we did get some studying done at least," she said, with, could it have been?, some sadness in her tone.

"Yeah," Mamoru replied. "I'll let myself out."

Usagi only nodded before turning away. As he walked home under the black sky dotted with grains of starlight and a sliver of a moon hanging overhead, Mamoru felt an uneasiness inside. Why couldn't he have apologized? Why was he so afraid to reveal emotion? He realized that his words could hurt but he never supposed the absence of them might hurt more.


About three weeks later, Makoto approached Usagi after school.

"Mianko, Ami, and I are gonna catch a movie now. Wanna come?"

Usagi shook her head regrettably. "Sorry, Mako-chan, I can't."

Mako frowned playfully. "Why not?"

"I have a study session now."

"With Mamoru-kun?"

Rolling her eyes, Usagi nodded. "Yeah, it sucks but I'm getting used to it. Hey, I have to go. I need to clean my room before he comes over."

"Comes over!? He goes to your house!"

"Yeah," Usagi grumbled.

"And, have you ever seen his?"

"No, come to think of it, I haven't," Usagi replied. "At first he said his apartment was getting tented for bugs, but now...I don't know."

"Maybe he has a really dirty place," suggested Mako.

Usagi shrugged. Why didn't she ever go over to Mamoru's? It *was* kinda unfair that Usagi did all of the entertaining. "I'd better go, Mako-chan. Have fun at the movies!"

*Passing up the movies to study! And with her nemesis, Mamoru, no less! That's not like Usagi,* thought Mako.

"What's up, Mako-chan? You're too deep in thought for my liking. So, is Usagi coming?," asked Minako, as she approached her friend.

"Actually, that's exactly what I was thinking about. She can't. She has a study date with Mamoru."

Minako's eyes twinkled. "Awww, that's nice. *Very* nice. Hee hee hee."

"Minako...what are you up to?" Mako asked.

"Sweet, innocent me?" Minako joked. "Why, absolutely nothing!"

"Don't tell me that! I see the gears in your head working overtime."

"If you must know...L-O-V-E, my dear friend. Come the movies await us," she said, wrapping her arm around her very confused friend's shoulder. "I'll explain on the way."


Usagi closed the cover of her physics book, groaned, and flopped her head down on the coffee table.

"I'll *never* get this," she whined.

"It isn't that difficult," Mamoru replied, packing up his notebook. "You make things so much harder than they really are."

"Easy for you to say, Einstein," Usagi retorted sarcastically.

"Whatever. Thursday same time, same place, okay?" Mamoru stood and prepared to leave until Usagi halted him.

"No, wait. We always study at my house. How about we go to *your* place for a change?"

Shifting uncomfortably, Mamoru stuttered some kind of excuse as to why that wouldn't work. Something about his place being dirty.

"Right. I'm sure it can't be any messier than my room. So it's settled. Thursday, your place. Great, give me directions tomorrow in school."

And before Mamoru could get a word in edgewise, Usagi had walked to the door, opened it, and indicated that it was time for him to leave.

"See you tomorrow!" she sang saccharinely. "And don't forget those directions!"


*Ring...ring...ringringringring.*

"Where is he," Usagi muttered as she stood outside of apartment 3D, Mamoru's apartment, ringing the bell. "He'd better answer."

Just as the words escaped her lips, the door swung open, revealing a perturbed Mamoru in the foreground of what was an immaculately spotless living room.

"Real dirty, Chiba," Usagi said.

"Could you ring the bell anymore? I don't think I heard it the first twenty times!" he snapped.

Usagi rolled her eyes, stepped in, and removed her shoes. She scanned the tiny apartment. Very tiny. Almost a studio. She wondered how an entire family lived in here. The furniture was clean and modern and set upon a plush, dark green carpet. The opposite side of the living room was a sliding glass door which led out onto a small balcony that had a breathtaking view of the city. However, Usagi noticed that the place lacked a flavor, a personality. There was the furniture and the stereo and the TV but that was it. No trinkets or paintings or ornaments. Nothing. *Mamoru's such a square,* thought Usagi. But, it was still a very nice place.

"Want something to drink?" asked Mamoru.

"Water, thanks."

He walked into the kitchen and Usagi sat down on the white leather sofa. Gazing at the coffee table, Usagi noticed there was one framed photograph, the only indication that a person, and not a robot, inhabited the apartment. Apparently it was taken a while ago, obvious from the outdated clothes and hair. In it, there was a man with jet-black hair and a dashing grin with his arm around a smiling woman's waist. She had soft lavender hair and piercing blue eyes, so light they seemed to be the color of the sky. And last, a little boy, smiling broadly, with shaggy black hair like the man and stunning eyes like the woman. Mamoru and his parents, assumed Usagi. The perfect, picturesque family. Three happy, beautiful people. Usagi wondered if his parents were anything like the son they had produced: heartless, egocentric, indifferent. Just then, Mamoru reappeared from the kitchen with a bottle of water in his hand and a Diet Coke in the other. He handed the bottle to Usagi.

"Your parents. Are they home yet?" asked Usagi.

Mamoru sipped his soda, and then replied as if he were speaking of the weather: "They're dead."

Usagi's eyes grew wide. "Oh...I'm so sorry. I didn't realize..."

Mamoru just shrugged. "Whatever."

"Whatever? Is that how you deal with things? Not everything's a 'whatever,'" Usagi said.

"They died a long time ago. In a car accident. It's over and done with so why should I dwell on it?" Mamoru replied coolly. Then he changed the subject. "What should we study?"

When he heard no response, he turned and looked at Usagi who was staring back at him with a look never before seen in her eyes. Throbbing, overwhelming sympathy.

"Don't look at me like that, Usagi," he said.

Her lips curved downwards a little. "I pity you, Mamoru." It was the first time she had said his name without any sarcasm or hate.

"Don't."

"How can you say that! Your parents died! You're an orphan-"

"I'm not an orphan," he protested.

"Then who do you live with? Do you have anyone to rely on?" she asked.

"I live by myself. I rely on myself," he replied icily. "I only need me."

Usagi shook her head slightly. "I see," she whispered.

Mamoru was digging himself deeper and deeper into this mess. He was so confused, so angry he wanted to scream. Why did she do this? Make him dwell on the past! He wanted to leave it where it belonged, in the past. Why did she pretend to care? Most of all, why wouldn't she stop looking at him in that way?

"Well," she said softly. "Maybe we should get to work."

"Yeah, okay," Mamoru said, relieved to finally depart from the touchy subject. "I've got some hounding History questions that I need help with..."

Usagi went through an hour and a half of studying half-heartedly. Mamoru's nonchalance for once seemed more saddening then aggravating. She could only imagine the sad life he had in store for him. Loveless, lonely, depressing. She tried not to ponder it, it wasn't *her* problem, but somehow her thoughts always drifted back to Mamoru's stony face and icy demeanor. Not a spiteful word passed from her lips that evening. And Mamoru seemed extra chipper. It was a facade, she knew. Usagi realized something that night. That not everybody was what they seemed. That some existed behind a mask, trying to conceal their demons from the world. With that epiphany, Usagi made a pact with herself to never judge someone before she knew them. She wasn't sure if she could keep her promise (especially concerning Mamoru). But she sure would try.

- - -

Culture notes:

*Normally, in Japan summer break is probably half of the typical American one. The reason for that being the Japanese school year starts in the spring and they have 3 semesters, not 2, like in the USA.

*"Senpai" is the equivalent of "senior."

*To get into a University, Japanese students have to take and pass Entrance Exams, which are extremely difficult. "Examination hell" and "exam wars" are terms used to describe them so you can imagine how strenuous they are.

*Okay, this brings me to my point about the "Achievement Award." This would probably never happen in any Japanese school, but I'm exercising the poetic license again so: nyaa ha!

Stay tuned for Phase 4!!