This takes place a while after the last episode. Of course, Sailor Moon and it's
characters aren't mine...if they were I'd make Seiya have eyes for only me
*dreamy look* Anyways, send me compliments or complaints. I can't get any better
without criticism. Enjoy!

                    Forget Destiny, Forget the Past
     Tears welled up in Usagi's large blue eyes. Mamoru reached out for her.
"I'm sorry, Usako. I have to do this. I can't spend my life waiting for more
enemies and bigger fights. I need to live my life." Usagi cried. "You promised
you'd never leave me again! Every time you go, something happens and we get
separated. I don't want to lose you anymore!" Mamoru's heart wrenched. Leaving
Usagi again for America was difficult. He loved her, but doing more
self-discovery and living out a full life was more important to him. "I'll be
back. I always come back. Don't I?" Usagi nodded into his jacket as her tears
began to subside. She knew he was right on that point, but she couldn't shake
the feeling that this was different. Sniffling, Usagi pulled away from her love
and worked the promise ring he had given her off her finger. Confused, Mamoru
accepted the trinket back. "Usako...?" Usagi straightened herself and wiped her
face. "If you mean what you said and come back to me, I'll take the ring back.
But you promised me you'd never leave again. You broke that promise. That ring
is a symbol of another promise you gave me. You can't break it if I don't have
it. I'll wait for you, Mamo-chan." Mamoru's hand closed tightly around the ring.
He reached his other arm out to gather Usagi into one last embrace.
                               *     *     *
	Seiya sighed and switched hands his head was leaning on. He continued to stare
out his window into the night sky. * The stars are beautiful tonight. Are you
watching the sky too, Dumpling? *Alternating between smiles and tears, his mind
reflected on his earth memories. He missed all of the Senshi. They were his
friends. Never could he forget about Usagi, though. Her beautiful face,
penetrating blue eyes, silky blonde hair, and musical laugh haunted his dreams
and lingered in his mind all the time. Turning from the window and plopping down
in a pillowy black chair, Seiya swallowed his grief and began to nod off,
dreaming sweet dreams of the love he left back on earth.
                           *     *     *
     Yaten turned away from his brother's door and strolled down the corridor
towards his chambers. He had been peeking in, watching Seiya reminisce and mourn
in the silence of his dark room. Yaten was feeling down, too. Much as he hated
to admit it, he missed earth. Immediately, his mind went to Minako. He'd never
told his brothers how he'd been secretly pleased by the constant doting of the
energetic blonde. Her smiles brightened his entire day. His ego was never
lacking when she was around. For someone to house such a tremendous amount
of...affection...for him felt wonderful. He only wished he could see her again.
It would be bliss for the next 300 years if he could feel her weight clinging to
his arm just one more time.
                             *     *     *
	Two weeks had passed since Mamoru's second departure for America. Usagi had
been smiling and laughing all the while, but her friends could feel the tension
underneath the show she put on. It was ever present even now as the group joked
and giggled on their way to the arcade. Mako was in the lead walking beside Ami
when she halted the other four. A tall, handsome jogger came huffing by them at
the corner. Mako's jaw dropped as he winked at her and picked up his pace for
show. Mako's eyes were all hearts. As she opened her mouth to spout her famous
line, her four friends chorused together, "HE LOOKS LIKE MY OLD BOYFRIEND!!"
Mako blushed as Minako and Usagi leaned on each other laughing. Tears blurred
their eyes from the exertion. Rei chuckled and nudged Ami who was trying
unsuccessfully to smother a smile.
	When the group regained their composure, they entered the arcade. Immediately,
Usagi and Minako bee-lined it to the racing games. They pumped in their quarters
began their heated competition. Mid-race, Mako leaned over Minako's seat and
said, "I've really missed this, guys. Just being teenage girls." Her friends all
smiled and agreed. Minako laughed as she knocked Usagi's car into a rail. Minako
replied, "Now we all have time to work on the things we love to do but never
have time for." Usagi pouted and stepped on the gas, trying to catch up to
Minako's car. "Want me to take over for you, kitten?" Usagi took her foot off
the gas as she and her four friends whirled around.
	Haruka stood five feet away. Her boy's uniform was unbuttoned and her hands
were thrust into her pockets casually. Michiru stood beside her, the picture of
grace and delicacy. She brushed her wavy sea-green hair back and smiled. Usagi
jumped out of the seat and hugged the two girls. "I've missed you both so much!
Where have you been?" Haruka smiled and looked at Michiru, who in turn winked
making her girlfriend blush a little. "We...ahh...took a vacation. After the
last battle we decided some time at the beach would do us both good." Usagi
nodded and rubbed her nose. When her hand came up to her face, Haruka noticed
Mamoru's ring was missing. Forgetting everything she knew about tact, Haruka
asked the question, "How's Mamoru?"
	The smiles fell from everyone's faces. Usagi's lip trembled as she replied.
"He's good. He decided to go to America again for his studies, you know." Haruka
frowned. She moved forward and wrapped her arms around Usagi as the heart-broken
girl began to sob loudly. Apologizing to the rest of the group, Haruka and
Michiru walked Usagi outside to the car so they could take her home.
                              *     *     *
	The princess frowned on her large red throne as she mulled over her problem.
Her Stars were unhappy. Seiya was always in his room sighing and huffing in a
depressed state. Yaten was lazier than usual, if that was possible, humming some
of the Starlight's old songs constantly. Taiki was even beginning to show
emotion, which was very out of character. The princess wasn't stupid. She knew
they all missed their lives back on earth. The problem wasn't that she needed
them to stay. She always had more Stars. Star Destroyer and Star Protector were
both training even now as she pondered the other three. She could easily find
Star Defender if she needed to. No, the problem was she didn't want her Stars to
leave. Seiya, Yaten, and Taiki were her favorites. She loved them as if they
were her own children. Seeing them unhappy was torture, but so would be giving
them up. Weighing the choices, she decided that their happiness was more
important. She could always come to see them. Having made up her mind, the
princess rose from her seat and left court to find her Stars.
	Yaten leaped into the air and did a jiggy little dance around the room.
Laughing and smiling so much his face hurt, he grabbed the princess and swung
her around in circles. He then collapsed on the floor. The physical exertion had
been too much for him. Heaving, he asked, "Have you told the other two yet?" The
princess tilted her head. Her heart felt warm and heavy at the same time. She
decided it had been worth it. She had never seen Maker this happy before. "Taiki
knows. I think he went to the gardens to express his emotions in private. I
haven't told Seiya yet." Yaten sat up fast. "Could I tell him? Please?" Smiling,
the princess reached her hand out to help the young man up. "Of course you can.
I can't deny my boys anything..."
	Seiya looked at his brother in disbelief. "That's not funny." He waited in
silence, hoping more than anything in the universe his brother wasn't playing a
cruel joke on him. The princess peaked around the corner of Seiya's chambers and
chimed in, "He's serious." Seiya looked from Yaten's glowing face, to his
princess', back to Yaten and let out a huge "YAHOOOOO!! WOOOOOOO!!! YES! YES!
YES! I'm going to eeeearth! Who's going to earth!?! Yep, that's me!! WOOO!! I'm
going to earth!!!" All three danced around the room singing silly songs and
laughing merrily. Taiki looked in the room as he was passing by and smiled
broadly. You got that right. We're going back. He paused outside his own door
just down the hall, looking left and right he made sure he was alone. With a
leap into the air, Taiki clicked his heels together and gave out a cry of joy.
Quickly regaining composure, he went into his room.
                            *     *     *
	Minako and Ami walked along the sidewalk in silence. It had been a month since
her small break out into tears at the arcade. Now she was as sad and depressed
as she had been the first time Mamoru left. Maybe even more so. Both girls were
worried about her. "I just don't understand how Mamoru can do this to her
again!" Minako was saying. Ami shrugged. "He doesn't want to live his life
according to destiny and the past." Minako frowned. "I guess but I still don't
see how he can keep hurting her and how she can keep going back to him." Ami was
thoughtful for a moment. "Because she loves him and knows it will work out in
the end I suppose is why she continues to support him." Minako had a thought.
"You know they didn't even have these feelings for each other until after they
found out they were supposed to. You think maybe Mamoru realizes this and
doesn't really love her, at least not as passionately as before?" Ami's eyebrows
raised at the clever thought. "Maybe you're on to something..."
     Pausing at an electronics store, Ami asked Minako if she wouldn't mind
going inside with her to look at a computer. Though the idea of it bored her to
tears on the inside, Minako cheerily smiled and said, "Okay!" While Ami ooohed
and awwed over the mega-huge computer systems and hard drives, Minako made her
way over to the television section. She glanced around. Not seeing a store clerk
anywhere, she decided to do some channel surfing. Flipping through the stations
like crazy, she came to an abrupt halt. "Kou Yaten..." she whispered. Ami
strolled over to Minako and told her she was ready to go. Her friend didn't even
notice her. Ami's eyes followed Minako's gaze and she gasped. The Three Lights
were sitting side by side on screen with a talk show host. Ami turned the volume
up.

Talk Show Host: You know your fans went crazy when you guys split up. How do you
think they'll react when you join back together?

Taiki: Hopefully, they'll be willing to forgive and forget. We missed them all
and couldn't stay away.  Maybe they will be more accepting because of that.

Talk Show Host: Mmm hmm. What about your fans did you miss so much?

Yaten: They stood by us to the end. We realized we aren't happy without their
caring, support, and friendship. What more could we want?

Talk Show Host: Okay, we're out of time. Anything you'd like to say?

Seiya looked straight at the camera.

Seiya: We're back.
                            *     *     *
	Juuban School was insane the next day at school. Girls were rushing and
chatting in a frenzy wondering when the Lights were going to return to school.
Minako was hearts-a-flutter. She danced into class and twirled into her chair.
She dramatically dipped her head, turning towards Usagi and batting her eyes.
Usagi just looked at Minako and half-giggled. She then returned to staring at
her desk. Disappointed but not disheartened, Minako leaned closer to her friend.
"Are you excited or what?" Usagi looked at Minako funny. "About what?" Minako
looked her friend in disbelief. "Usagi-chan, I refuse to believe that you have
no idea what I'm talking about." Usagi just shook her head and stared at her
blankly. "The Lights are back!" Usagi did a double take. Her eyes got wide. She
gave Minako a look and began to say something when she heard a voice and jumped.
"Dumpling..."
	Usagi raised her eyes to the figure in red standing before her. Her eyes
traveled up the fine crimson suit to the smiling face of Seiya. "Seiya-kun!!"
Usagi's eyes became watery up as she leapt out of her seat to embrace her
friend. "I missed you so much!" Seiya stroked her head soothingly while
butterflies slammed against the insides of his stomach. * Beautiful as ever, my
love *
     While Seiya was enjoying the moment, Usagi's tears of happiness quickly
turned to something else and she began bawling. Confused, Seiya held her
tighter. "What's wrong, Dumpling? Are you not happy to see me?" Seiya's
concerned words made her choke on her sobs. "Oh no! I just.....Mamo-chan,
he....and I.....and you...." Seiya, even more bewildered than before, calmed her
with coos and murmurs just as the teacher was walking through the door. He
whispered in her ear as she took her seat, "Pass me a note."
	A few minutes later, Usagi performed a large, very dramatic yawn and dropped a
piece of folded paper on Seiya's desk. He unfolded it and read:

Seiya-kun,
	I'm happier than I can describe that you're back. Friends forever, right? I'm
upset because Mamo-chan has left again. The night before he left, I gave him
back his promise ring saying it was so he couldn't break this promise to me if I
still didn't have it. I've only talked to him a few times on the phone, and it
seems like he's getting more and more distant each time. I think he just wants
to forget about the past and make his own future. If he does, where does that
leave me? Or Chibi-Usa? I'm at a loss.
							Usagi

Seiya mulled over the note. His heart was leaping for joy. It appeared as though
he had a second chance. Her "friends forever" comment still hurt, but maybe if
Mamoru had really moved on, he would get his chance at happiness with Usagi.
Quickly, Seiya scribbled a note in response and  dropped it over Usagi's
shoulder. She grabbed it and read it to herself.

Dumpling,
	I'm sorry. I really am. There's nothing I can say to make the hurt go away. I'm
here though. You have your friends here, too. Don't let what you don't have ruin
what you do have. The Senshi are your friends to the end as well as Yaten,
Taiki. You know you'll always have my friendship and more. If you promise to
gorge yourself like a pig like you always did before, I'll treat you to ice
cream after school.
						Seiya

     Minako watched Usagi's face go from a frown, to all smiles, to confusion,
to finally fuming all in the course of reading a note from Seiya. She smiled and
turned her attention back to Yaten seated next to her. * How Seiya does it, I'll
never know. Yaten is so Kawaiii!!! *
Yaten sat next to Minako, beaming in silence over her obvious appraisal of him.
Smugly, he sat in his desk knowing that right now, the beautiful blonde with
sparkling eyes, turned those baby blues to no one but him. He turned his head
nonchalantly at Minako. Shifting his gaze quickly around the room to make sure
no one was looking, he looked back at her and winked. Minako squealed and
whipped back to attention facing forward. The teacher paused and looked at her
suspiciously. She grinned a big cheesy smile, and he continued on with his
lecture. Heart beating rapidly, she slid a peek back at Yaten. The handsome
young man sat in his seat with a half-smile of satisfaction on his face.
                             *     *     *
     Usagi licked the melting ice cream off her hands and went back to devouring
her third cone. Seiya just leaned back and smiled as he watched her. Usagi
noticed Seiya staring at her. "Do I have some on my face?" Seiya peered at her
and decided to fib. "Yeah, let me get it for you. He picked up a napkin and
pulled a chair closer to Usagi's. With one hand he held her chin and turned her
face towards him. With the other hand, he dipped the napkin in his glass of
water and dabbed her face. He leaned in close as he was cleaning her. His heart
rate increased. Making eye contact with Usagi, he swallowed as he slowly and
gently moved his hand on her cheek. Usagi was feeling mixed emotions. She was
confused. Her chest was constricting and her heart was pounding. While she was
looking into Seiya's eyes, all she could think about was kissing him.
     Usagi quickly drew back. * Mamo-chan! Think Mamo-chan, girl! * Seiya
cleared his throat. "I got it all. If you're finished we could head over to the
temple or something. I'm sure you're anxious to talk to Yaten and Taiki." Usagi
hesitantly smiled and agreed. "Yep, I'm done. Let's go." Usagi stood up and
Seiya came up beside her. * Down boy. * He thought to himself. * If I scare her
it'll take even longer to win her * With that in mind, the pair strolled slowly
down the sidewalk, talking about everything and nothing at all. Usagi couldn't
remember the last time she had had so pleasant a time.
                              *     *     *
     Usagi tapped her fingers impatiently on the nightstand. "Come on,
Mamo-chan. Pick-up!" She squeezed the phone tightly in her hand. Mamoru hadn't
answered his phone in a couple of days. She had left several messages on the
machine insisting he call her as soon as he had a chance regardless of the hour.
His phone continued to ring until finally the machine picked up once again. Luna
watched sadly as her mistress became increasingly agitated and upset.
"Mamo-chan, it's me again. Please call me. I'm so worried about you. The Lights
are back and I'm happy about that but I'm lonely for you. Call me. I love you."
Usagi hung up the phone. She looked at Luna and began to cry. The black cat
climbed up into her lap and tried her best to lick Usagi's tears away to no
avail.
                             *     *     *
     Mamoru sat next to the phone with his head in his hands. He felt horrible,
but he just didn't want any part of that life anymore. "Mamoru? Come back to
bed!" and husky feminine voice called out from the bedroom. Mamoru looked at the
phone one more time before unplugging it. He ran his hand through his hair and
headed for the bedroom.
                             *     *     *
     Seiya gazed longingly at Usagi's window. Two weeks had passed since his ice
creamy moment with her. He was a patient man, but he couldn't get her out of his
head. Picking up a small pebble, Seiya chucked it at the window. Immediately, a
blonde head popped up. Seiya squinted to see her better. Apparently she had
taken her odangos down for bed. "Beautiful..." he murmured.
     Usagi opened her window up. "What do you want?" Seiya smiled at her groggy
face. "I had to see you. I missed that bright smile of yours." Usagi frowned and
began to grump to herself. "You just saw me this evening at Rei's!" she hissed.
Seiya chuckled. "Even an hour is too long to go without seeing you. He heard
more grumbling from Usagi. "Just a minute. I'm coming down." Hurrying into a
skirt and a shirt, Usagi pulled her hair into an easy ponytail instead of
bothering with her odangos. Quietly slipping through the house, she snuck
outside.
Seiya stood leaning against a tree in her backyard. "You know if my father
catches you out here, your head will roll. And I'LL be laughing." Seiya chuckled
and moved closer to Usagi. Her hair pulled back without the meatballs was a nice
change. "You look lovely like that." Usagi, not expecting a compliment, smiled
and blushed. "Thank you, Seiya-kun." Bother were silent for a moment. "Was there
really a reason you came tonight?" she asked again. Seiya shook his head. His
voice was becoming huskier. "I just wanted to look at you." Usagi shifted her
feet. She felt a little uncomfortable just standing here like this but she
didn't know what else she should do.
     "Let's lay in the grass and talk a while since I'm awake for good it
seems." Seiya laughed and apologized. "I'm sorry I tore you from your dreams of
Mamoru." Usagi got quiet. She laid in the grass and Seiya followed, laying
opposite of her so his head lay side by side with hers. "I think Mamoru and I
are through." Seiya wasn't sure if he should pursue this direction of
conversation, but curiosity took over. "Why is that?" She surprised him by not
crying or getting weepy. "He still hasn't answered any of my calls. I tried
again the other night and his number had been changed. I think it's pretty
obvious where he stands." Seiya didn't know what to say. "I'm sorry. Are you
okay?" Usagi sighed. "Yes. That's why I gave him back his ring, so he couldn't
break a promise to me. I've been thinking a lot about what you said, about being
happy with what I have. You're right." Seiya smiled. He then grew serious with
his next question. "Do you think you'll be able to move on?" Usagi thought for a
few minutes. Seiya held his breath. "I think it's going to be hard for me to
trust somebody else with my heart, but I don't see why I shouldn't." Seiya's
breath accidentally came out as a whoosh. "What if you already trust the guy?"
Usagi again took a moment. * The only guys I trust are the Starlights. Who could
he be talking about? * "Then I guess it wouldn't be a problem. Why did you guys
come back to earth?"
     Not expecting a question, Seiya stumbled over his words before he regained
composure. "Didn't you see our television interview? That message was for you
girls." Usagi shook her head. "No, I'm sorry but I missed it. What did you say
in it?" Seiya grinned. "We missed you guys and our lives on earth. We love the
princess, but when we went away with her, we left our hearts here with you."
Usagi smiled. "That's very sweet." Casually, Seiya replied, "I know." Usagi
laughed and leaned over to tickle him in the side.
     The poke made Seiya jump and yelp. He laughed and a tickle war began. Seiya
had the advantage because he was bigger so he pinned Usagi to the ground.
Straddling her stomach, he poked and pinched her sides until she was out of
breath and begging for mercy. "Stop please! Ha ha ha! You win! Uncle! Mercy!
You're the king of the world!" Panting and still chuckling, both relaxed Seiya
was still on top of Usagi. His eyes hungrily wandered all over her face. "You
are the most beautiful girl in the world." Usagi felt the stirring inside
Seiya's pants and blushed. Seiya leaned closer to her face. "Dumpling..." Usagi
had no choice. Her body was on fire.  Her eyes closed and she lifted her head
slightly up off the ground. Seiya met her lips and wrapped his arms beneath her
head for support. He lowered himself so his body was covering half of hers.
Their kiss was gentle. They nibbled and ran their tongues along each other's
lips. After a few minutes, Seiya pulled away. Usagi's eyes were sparkling. "Are
you happy? Or do you wa nt to go inside?" Worry spread across his features. It
only lasted a moment. Usagi smiled and drew Seiya's head back down to hers. *
This is right. It feels right. * Usagi thought to herself. Seiya didn't do any
thinking. He could've died at that moment and been content for eternity.
                            *     *     *
     Minako eyed Usagi and Seiya suspiciously at school the next day. Both were
all smiles and flirting shamelessly with each other. Their classmates noticed
too because rumors were flying by lunchtime. Minako began the interrogation the
instant Usagi came over to the group to eat. "What's up girl? Anything
INTERESTING going on with you?" Usagi got a dreamy look in her eyes and mumbled,
"No, not really." Mako's eyebrows shot up. "Oh really? How's Seiya doing today?"
Usagi began nibbling on her sandwich and shrugged. "Good, I guess." The girls
watched dumbfounded as the meatball-headed girl pecked at her lunch instead of
inhaling as usual. Minako tried again. "There are rumors going around about you
two. Everyone thinks you're in love." Positive she'd get a pout out of her
friend who always instantly denied those accusations, Minako and the girls were
shocked when Usagi merely replied, "Oh really?"
     Mako leapt up. "Ha! You DO like him! How could you keep this from us?"
Usagi blushed then motioned them all to move in close. She then whispered the
story to them. "I didn't know until last night. He came over and we talked
seriously in the grass. Then we had a tickle war. Then he kissed me! We just
laid there and kissed until almost dawn!" Three mouths dropped wide open. Minako
and Mako smiled broadly and congratulated Usagi. Ami simply blushed and stuck
her nose deeper into her book.
     Minako patted Usagi's back. "I knew you'd come around. He'd been pining for
you for so long that it was just bound to happen." Usagi looked confused. "What
are you talking about?" Minako rolled her eyes. Mako answered her. "Don't you
remember when he spent all that time with you the first time they were here. And
that time when you were crying on the rooftop and he asked if he wasn't good
enough? When they left he said he'd never forget you? He's loved you since way
back then!" Usagi looked confused for a moment, then as realization struck, she
was sad. "Excuse me for a second!"
     Usagi ran across the concourse, looking for Seiya. She spotted him leaning
against a wall talking to his brothers. "Excuse me, Yaten-kun, Taiki-kun.
Seiya-kun, can I talk to you?" Seiya said, "Sure." and followed her away from
prying eyes and ears. His nervous were a little on edge. His biggest fear would
be that she would announce last night, the greatest night of his life, was a
mistake. Usagi bit her lip, trying to get up the nerves to say what she needed
to say. "Dumpling? Just say what you're thinking. It's just me." Tears welled up
in her eyes. After a minute, she finally broke. "I'm so sorry!" She sobbed. "I
had no idea you loved me, and I was so mean. I was so wrapped up in Mamoru I
didn't see how my behavior was affecting you. I must have hurt you so badly! Can
you forgive me?" Seiya pulled Usagi into his arms and stroked her head tenderly.
"Shh. There's nothing to forgive. As long as you're happy with me right now,
that's all that matters." Usagi sniffled. Meekly, she asked. "Do you love me?"
Seiya felt his stomach jump into his throat. He closed his eyes and answered,
"Yes, with all my heart." Usagi squeezed him tightly. "You know you're my best
friend," she began. Seiya nodded. "And now we're going to be together as a
couple..." Seiya continued to just nod, not quite sure what she was getting at.
"Best friends and romantic intentions...I think I'm in love with you, too."
Seiya's heart swelled. He pulled slightly away from Usagi to look into her eyes.
     Forgetting the school and all of their classmates, Seiya and Usagi pulled
into a warm embrace followed by a deep, promising kiss.