For the One I Love

Chapter Three: A Desperate Move

"I don't like him!" Chibi-Usa crossed her arms stubbornly. Her chin was high in the air and her eyes were closed tightly in refusal. The two Outer Senshi had taken the small princess back to their place.

"Neither do I." Haruka grumbled out the side of her mouth. "Ow!" Michiru, who was sitting next to her, elbowed her in the side.

"Knock it off, you'll encourage her." She whispered through her teeth.

"She doesn't need to encourage me; my mind is set." Michiru sighed in frustration.

"Listen Chibi-Usa, don't go on what Haruka says." Michiru tried to reason with the young girl. "You can't judge someone without even meeting them."

"Oh c'mon Michiru. You knew nothing about those three when you refused to let them near Usagi."

"Because, it is our duty to protect her from outsiders we know nothing about, and now we know plenty. They are our allies as Senshi." Seeing no way around Haruka's stubbornness, she decided to focus on Chibi-Usa instead. "Look, don't go doing or saying anything rash. You know nothing about them and they don't need to know anything about you. Especially not who you are or where you're really from. Don't even reveal that you are a Senshi to them. It's better they don't know."

"Heh!" Haruka made a loud noise. "Why, because it might break that punk's heart to know Usagi has a daughter with Mamoru?"

"No, because enough people know about Earth's future!" She snapped back. "Please, Chibi-Usa?"

Chibi-Usa closed her eyes, grunting loudly. Michiru prayed this meant 'fine'.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Usagi laid in her room with the lights completely off, soft music playing dimly in the background from her stereo. She rolled over on her bed, facing the moonlight now beginning to creep in through her window. Everything that had just happened hours before, kept replaying in her mind. How could she ever face him again, knowing what she did now? How could she have gone so long without seeing it? Now that she looked back on it, there were so many signs. But to be so blinded, and then to find out in such a way...Usagi touched the tips of her fingers against her lips and her heart accelerated. She could feel her face begin to redden and an overwhelming emotion in the pit of her stomach began to consume her.

"Mmm-" Usagi groaned for what seemed like the thousandth time as she turned again, this time placing her pillow over her head. Nothing she tried work, when she closed her eyes all she could see was the expression on Seiya's face before he took off. Usagi had continued to sit there a while after, dazed and feeling broken, before picking herself up and walking home. She felt as if she had just lost something special, and it hurt. A lot. Another battle raged on in her as well, should she tell Mamoru?

"No." She finally decided muffled beneath the pillow. She needed to figure some things out on her own first, before involving Mamoru, like this sinking sensation, and where their friendship stood from here on out. Once more, Seiya's face filled her thoughts.

"Can't?" Seiya asked her. "Why can't you? Or do you mean you don't?" She stared at him, not knowing how to reply. "I know you love Mamoru-san, but that doesn't mean you don't love me too. Usagi-" Seiya knelt down in front of her, and took her hand. "Tell me you don't love me."

"I can't love you." She said softly. "Seiya, I just can't. I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too..." And he ran off...

Tears drifted down her cheeks as she began to fall into an unsteady sleep.

Some time had passed before Usagi was jolted awake. The lights had been flipped on as her covers were abruptly yanked away from her. Through squinted eyes, she could make out that her friends Rei, Ami, Minako, and Makoto had just entered her room.