Stay
	Part 1/?
	By Elisabeth James

This is a sort of different time setting in the SM universe, in order to make the story line
work and flow the way I want it too. Usagi is finished with high school and ready to go to
college, Mamoru is now in medical school studying to become a doctor.  
This fic was also partly inspired by another Lisa Loeb song called Stay, which I believe is
on a major movie soundtrack, the name of the movie escapes me right now…  Well enjoy
and I will love you forever if you send some feedback my way.

	Disclaimer: I hate Alex, I hate Alex, I have Alex, and I don't own Sailor Moon. 
I'm sorry but it's time you knew the truth, I could live the lie no longer…



	The autumn afternoon was warm on Tsukino Usagi's shoulders.  After spring this
was her favorite time of year, all the leaves falling in their vibrant plenitude of hues.  The
weather was still pleasantly warm and all the Tokyo schoolchildren were getting ready to
go back to school.  Except for Usagi, whose life had somewhat hit a standstill after
graduation earlier that year.
	All of her friends had moved on so quickly, in a hurry to get away from Tokyo
and start new lives in the real world.  Only Rei had stayed behind and she had no time for
such childish games, or visits to the game center.  She was head priestess of the Hiwaka
Shrine, a job that held too many responsibilities to allow time for fun.
	Usagi pushed open the doors to the Game Center, a place she referred to as her
second home away from home.  She turned to the counter, almost expecting to Motoki
standing there, ready to greet her with a smile.  But suddenly her memory told her that
Motoki hadn't worked here for years, he had long since moved on to medical school with
Mamoru.
	She felt more alone then she did before, everyone had left her all detached and
isolated.  She found it hard to connect with people like she had with her fellow senshi
and with all of them gone now, she felt out of place and alone.  The only person who she
still saw on a semi-regular basis was Mamoru.
	Their relationship had been altered somehow; they were both more mature and
understanding by the time Usagi entered her second year in high school.  Soon the
fighting had disappeared, and a steadfast friendship had formed in its place.  But he was a
medical student now, an adult.  He and Usagi had slowly drifted apart this last year, only
serving to add to the heartache of losing her friends.
	She took a seat in the back booth, her mind returning to happier times, when
things were simpler.  Well not simpler, but more carefree.  Her fights with Mamoru that
would drive Motoki wild, the tiffs her and Rei always got into.  And the high score war
she had with Ami on the Sailor V game for so long.  And the guy watching Mina and her
had engaged in too many times to keep track of from that same booth she was sitting in
right now.  She couldn't help but laugh at the memories of everyone together and happy.
	"Why so glum Usagi-chan?" a deep voice from above her suddenly spoke.  She
turned her gaze upwards.
	"Mamoru-chan!" she stood up and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. 
"I've missed you so much." She whispered.
	"I missed you too, but you know how busy medical school can get.  There's so
much to learn, and study, I doubt I'll ever remember it all." He backed away from her for
a second, "I must say Usagi-chan, you looked even more lovely then when I saw you last
time."
	She blushed lightly; he always knew exactly what to say to brighten up a dark
mood.  His face had changed slightly from the time she had saw him last, his shoulders
seemed broader, but the smile he wore remained the same.  She called it his Usa smile; it
was a smile she had only seen him use for her.  It gave her a feeling of great pride that
she and Mamoru had settled their differences and finally become friends.  It seemed
natural enough, but everyone had been taken aback by the news when it had happened.
	"Sit, sit." She motioned to the seat across from her and he slid into it.  She smiled
warmly, "So are you enjoying yourself at school Mamoru-chan?" his smile grew brighter
at every mention of that nickname, she had given it to him a long time ago.  He called her
Usagi-chan and she called him Mamoru-chan.
	"Very much so, Motoki and I are roommates there, it makes things easier to be
with someone you know well." She nodded, still smiling, while trying to push back those
feelings of loneliness.  She didn't get to see Mamoru often anymore, best not to ruin the
time with depressing things.
	"Do you have any plans for college anytime soon Usagi-chan?" she shook her
head, "Ne, no plans as of yet.  My councilor enrolled me in some college thing over the
summer though.  I hope to here back from it soon.  I was planning to just hang around
here for awhile."
	"That sounds like fun, I would love a little time to just spend hanging around
town.  I haven't left the campus in what seems like forever." 
	"I bet Mamoru-chan." She looked out the window; she could see her childhood in
every square inch of Tokyo almost.  So many memories, all of them treasured in one way
or another.  Why was she the only one not in such a hurry to grow up and move away? 
Why was she the only one bothering to cherish the memories?
	"You look sad, what's wrong?" he touched her hand softly.  Her eyes shot back to
his, a flash of something passed through the midnight blue irises that she had noticed so
long ago were beautiful.
	"It's nothing Mamoru-chan, I was just remembering…" she slowly inched her
hand away from his.  His warm comforting hand made her feel uneasy, there had always
been a certain spark between them, when they touched, everything seemed electrical.
	"You miss everyone don't you Usagi-chan?  I know how you feel." She smirked
softly, how would he possibly know what it was like to lose the people you love the
most?  To have everyone you have ever known leave you alone, in a world you're unsure
of, unsure of yourself in.
	"Of course I miss everyone, it gets lonely around here with everyone gone.  They
all have such great futures, and I'm still here, in a standstill.  I don't even know what
career I want to pursue, I don't want to want to fail."
	"You won't fail.  You'll be great at whatever you do, you have such talent, and it is
just raw and unrefined.  One day you'll find your calling and that skill will become this
beautiful thing that you can be proud you mastered."  A warm smile spread across his
face, he meant every word that came from his mouth.  She gaped at him, in wonder and
surprise.
	"Why that was almost poetic!  I didn't know you had it in you Mamoru-chan." 
	"I'm sure that there's plenty of things you don't know about me." They were
flirting back and forth, they both knew but neither of them was willing to stop it.
	"Like what?" she asked him playfully, she liked being the center of his attention. 
They both had to admit that being friends was ten times better than fighting all the time.
	"Like how much I would like to take a certain Odango Atama out to dinner soon." His 
smile was contagious and she found herself sucked into his happy mood.
	"Aren't you too busy for stuff like that?  I mean medical school probably is way
more important than a boring dinner with me."  He shook his head, "Usagi-chan, please,
nothing is more important to me than my friends.  And last time I checked you were one
of them, so come on, join me tomorrow night at that great Italian place uptown."
	"Fine Mamoru-chan if you want to spend that much on dinner, who am I to
argue?"  He kissed her cheek softly, "Great, I'll pick you up at your house at around 7:00
okay?  It'll be great, just like old times." 
He slid out of the booth slowly and stood up.  "I have to get going right now though,
there's an important class at the university I have to attend.  Bye Usagi-chan." He walked
quickly from the game center and out to his fancy little red sports car.  She waved to him
as he pulled away from the curb.
	She sighed softly, back to the loneliness she had managed to escape when
Mamoru was around her.  Something just felt right to her around him it just clicked.  She
stood up and cast one long glance around the large room, why did it feel like this would
be one of her last times ever coming here?  She quickly shrugged the feeling off and
walked out the door and up the street to her house.

*~~*~~~*~~~~*~~~*~~*

	"Hey Mom I'm home!" Usagi exclaimed as she let herself into the house.  The
smell of chicken and rice filled her nostrils and she walked into the kitchen.  "Something
sure smells delicious, what's for dinner?"
	"Just something special for my special little girl." Ikuko gushed, a bright grin
spread across her face.
	"What's up mom, I don't understand." She looked at her mother as Ikuko slid a
small white envelope across the table, "I accidently opened this by mistake, I'm sorry
Usagi, but you'll never believe what the letter said!"
	She pulled the piece of paper from the envelope and read it slowly, every word
sinking into her brain.  "I've been accepted to Princeton…  Oh my God!" she squealed
with excitement, the piece of paper fluttered to the floor as she hugged her mother.
	"That's all the way over in America Usagi, this is like a dream come true for you!"
she stopped and brushed the tears from her cheeks.  "That's so far away from you guys
though, what will I do without everyone around me?"
	"This is your big chance, you have to take it Usagi, this is a once in a lifetime
opportunity.  Don't throw it away."
	"Mom, this is a big thing, I really have to think about this.  This is a life changing
decision I have to make." She reached down and plucked the letter from the floor, "It says
here that I have until next Monday to make a decision about this."
	"What decision is there to make?  You have to do this, think of how great a job
you'll have once you graduate.  You'll never have to be dependent on a man to take care
of you, you can be your own boss Usagi."
	"It's my choice, maybe I don't want to lose all of my friends." She clutched the piece 
of paper; it was her ticket to freedom. She was so sure that she would just be able to hang 
around Tokyo for awhile, but now that she had the chance to get away, she just wasn't sure if 
she wanted it.
	"They all left to follow their dreams, you should too.  I just don't want to see you
amount to nothing like I did, I could have went to school, but I gave it all up to marry
your father.  I don't regret it honey, but I would hate to see your dreams disappear like
mine did.  Please think about this long and hard, opportunities like this only come around
once in a lifetime."  She gave her daughter one last hug; "Dinner will be ready in about
ten minutes, go and wash up for me okay?"  Usagi nodded and left the kitchen in a daze.
	What would she tell Mamoru tomorrow at dinner?

	To be continued…

	So what did everyone think of it so far?  PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE give me
some feedback, I'm feeling a little down lately and if everyone wrote me I would feel
better, (guilt trip sorry ^_^;)
	I'm working on Troubled in Tokyo part 3 but I have no clue when it will be out.  I
really have to be in the mood to work on it, but expect a new part to this fic soon.
	As always a very special thank you to: Clare-chan, Adrianne, Kelly, Sarah Beth,
and Meredith 

	And surprise surprise this fic is NOT dedicated to Alex, instead to me being
single and happy!!  Never let a guy let you feel like crap, I speak from experience 

Liz-chan