****************
The Way We Weren't
Part 10
Author: Usa
Disclaimers in Part 1
*****************

Usagi arrived home to find Shingo playing soccer with Iku. "Mama!" Iku
exclaimed, rushing over to her.

"Ohayo, Iku!" she replied, plastering a smile on her face and hugging
Iku. She was going to be strong for her little girl. After all, she
had plenty of friends in her theater group. "Did you have fun with
Shingo?"

"Haaaii!"

Shingo looked at his sister. He knew there was something wrong. He
always knew. Hell, he knew she was Sailor Moon since that day with the
chanellas. "Iku," Usagi said. "Why don't you see if grandma needs help
with dinner?"

"Okay!" She toddled off to the open door. 

Usagi sat on the front stoop. "Daijobou?" Shingo asked.

"I guess they never really liked me. They must have only needed me
as..." she trailed off, not wanting to give away her secret. Not that
she's been needed lately.

"Sailor Moon, right?"

Usagi gasped, looking up him. "How did you know?"

"I've known ever since the chanella escapade. I could see you in her
eyes. You never wanted to be Sailor Moon, did you?"

"Iie," Usagi replied quietly. "Not at first. I love to help people,
but I couldn't be a normal teenager and do normal teenage things. 
However, if Sailor Moon is ever needed, she would appear."

Shingo smiled. "You're needed by a lot of people, Usagi. From Iku to
Mama to me. If your friends can't see how wonderful you are then they
need therapy because you're the most important thing in this world."

Usagi gave him a watery smile. "Arigatou, Shingo. That means so much
to me."

"Usagi-chan!" 

The two looked up to see her 'friends'. "I'll be inside if you need
anything," Shingo told her. 

"Do you think you're better than all of us?" Rei burst.

Minako put a hand on her shoulder. "Rei-chan, calm down, please. Let
Usagi talk. I'm sure she has a good explanation."

"Explanation for what?" Usagi asked. "You're the ones who want
nothing
to do with me!"

"We never said that!" Makoto replied. 

"Mari said..." Usagi trailed off, eyes wide. 

Ami shook her head. "No, Mari-chan wouldn't lie, she's really sweet."

Usagi glared at Ami. "And I would?"

"Wait, minna!" Rei said. "She's right. Mari has never tried to be our
friend until Usagi came back in town."

"Rei's right," Minako agreed.

Ami blushed. "Gomen, Usagi-chan. I didn't mean to accuse you of
lying."

"It's okay, Mari had us all fooled. Maybe we should have a chat with
her," she suggested.

Makoto nodded. "Lets go then!"

*************

Mari and Mamoru were strolling through the park when Usagi and her
friends found them. "What's going on?" Mamoru asked, glancing over at
Usagi. 

Makoto and Rei pushed Ami forward. "We wanted to speak to you about
something, Mari-chan," she said. 

"That's right," Minako added, grabbing Mari's hand. "It's for the
bachelorette party." 

He smiled. "That's fine. Mari, I'll be waiting at Bunny's Ice Cream
Parlor," he told her, kissing her on the lips.

Usagi turned away. She knew he had moved on, but that didn't make it
any easier. To top it all off, they were going to one of her favorite
places. *Behave yourself, Usagi. You are not a child anymore!*

As soon as Mamoru was out of earshot, Makoto asked point blank what was
going on. "What are you talking about?" Mari answered. "I can't help
what you all feel! I try to be nice and this is the thanks I get?"

"'Try to be nice?'" Usagi said. "Ever since the day we first met you
wanted me a way from Mamoru! Even when I didn't know him! Yes, I
remember him now, but I would never do anything to hurt you. He's 
happy
and that's what matters most to me."

"I've missed out on two years with my friends because of an earthquake.
Don't take them away from me too!"

Mari sighed. It looked as though she was going to apologize, but then,
she began to laugh. She roughly grabbed Usagi's arm. "You expect me 
to
believe that? I don't trust you! I know you're just waiting for the
opportunity to take Mamoru-kun back!"

"Let go of her," Makoto said, through clenched teeth.

"Why don't you make me?" Mari exclaimed, tightening her grip on Usagi's
arm. Before Makoto could say another word, Mari was on her back. She
looked up at Usagi. "You bitch!"

"Don't ever come near me again!" Usagi cried, running out of the park.
Her friends raced after her.