Author - perfect goddess E-mail - perfect_goddess@start.com.au Title - Roses Disclaimer - standard disclaimer applies <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> AN - Here is one of my favorite songs, one that does not necessarily apply to this fic, but I found it inspiring. Hmph, I better cut it short, as I'm starting to sound like my English teacher! Enjoy, and e-mail is a good thing, really! Drops of Jupiter Now that she's back in the atmosphere With drops of Jupiter in her hair, hey, hey She acts like summer and walks like rain Reminds me that there's time to change, hey, hey Since the return from her stay on the moon She listens like spring and she talks like June, hey, hey Tell me did you sail across the sun Did you make it to the Milky Way to see the lights all faded And that heaven is overrated Tell me, did you fall for a shooting star One without a permanent scar And did you miss me while you were looking at yourself out there Now that she's back from that soul vacation Tracing her way through the constellation, hey, hey She checks out Mozart while she does tae-bo Reminds me that there's time to grow, hey, hey Now that she's back in the atmosphere I'm afraid that she might think of me as plain ol' Jane Told a story about a man who is too afraid to fly so he never did land Tell me did the wind sweep you off your feet Did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day And head back to the Milky Way And tell me, did Venus blow your mind Was it everything you wanted to find And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken Your best friend always sticking up for you even when I know you're wrong Can you imagine no first dance, freeze dried romance five-hour phone conversation The best soy latte that you ever had . . . and me Tell me did the wind sweep you off your feet Did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day And head back toward the Milky Way <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> The golden tresses of silken hair, hung loosely over slender shoulders. Tears fell freely down the pale and smooth face of the girl, her body shaking in grief. The pink dress was creased and wrinkled, fists clenching it in rage and brokeness. The sun set over the rose garden, the small figure of a girl lying on the bench outlined against the dazzling array of autumn colors. The roses were dying, and the girl was dying inside. Gaining control of the tears threatening to cascade down her face, she sat up woodenly on the bench, determined to go on with life. But she couldn't. Sitting back down in defeat, the salty tears fell down the already wet face. The wind whipped around her, picking up stray rose petals, creating a bizarre dance of shifting colors. Picking up the red roses that had fallen to the ground, the blond girl retrieved them, stoking the petals, and smelling the dying flowers. After sitting and smelling the roses, the girl threw them away and wiped the fresh tears. They smelt of him, and she couldn't stand it. Getting up and smoothing out the pink fabric, she kicked the flowers, and began to walk through the gardens, hoping to run into somebody, anybody, that could help her take her mind off the numbing pain that had a death grip on her very soul. "Usagi" It was him. Of all the people she could run into, it had to be him. Life was cruel. Turning away, and preparing to make a run for it, Usagi felt more tears along her smooth face. She seemed to be in perpetual tears now days. "Go away Mamoru." She managed, before running back through the rose garden and to the bench. Shattered. Usagi was broken, and only one thing could fix her, but she knew in her heart she could never have it. "Usagi?" Damn Chiba Mamoru! He knew her too well. Swiveling her fragile body away from the direction of his voice, Usagi clenched her fists at her side to keep the tears from falling. She could not show how she was hurting. "Usagi." Mamoru sounded almost relived. He sat down on the bench next to her, brushing ebony hair out of his ocean blue eyes. "Mamoru." She said, curtly. "Rei told me where you were." He said, as if it were an excuse for why he was there. Every moment he was there, Usagi wilted a little more. It was like being offered the world, only to find it had been taken. A lone tear escaped down her cheek. He was hurting too. Although Usagi would probably never know, Mamoru was just as broken as she was. The hours he spent over a coffee in the arcade was empty, and he just stared brokenly into the dark liquid. Motoki tried to comfort him, but to no avail. It had finally taken a fiery outburst from Rei, before he would come anywhere near the rose garden, let alone, Usagi. There were too many memories. "I didn't mean to hurt you, Usagi..." he began, but it felt insincere and hollow. Usagi flared up, with the most life she had had in her for days. "What do you mean you didn't mean to hurt me? You left me without an explanation! Do you know what I've been through? Do you know how much I've been hurting? I haven't slept, I haven't eaten. I can't do my work, I can't fight. My mother is worried sick about me. My friends don't know how to deal with this, any more than I do! You've done a great job of hurting me, you must have a natural talent for it." She said bitterly, the words stinging her throat. Mamoru hung his head in shame. He deserved it. He could only imagine the pain Usagi had gone through in his absence. "Why." She said quietly. "Why did you do it Mamoru." She turned to face him, crystal blue eyes pleading with him. "I..." he started. "The dream, the dream." He repeated. Shuffling over to him, Usagi cupped his face in her small hands. "We could've got through it, Mamoru. I thought our love was more than that, and could last through more than a simple dream." She turned away. "But I was wrong." She whispered. "No!" Mamoru said sharply. "No. I was wrong. I should never of let you go Usagi. Please, forgive me." Usagi hesitated. She did not ever want to be hurt as badly as she had again. "Please," Mamoru took her hand in his. "I love you, Usako." The barrier between them broke. Usagi threw herself into his waiting arms, sobbing her heart out, but this time in joy, and not in despair. "I love you too, Mamo-chan." Breathing in his scent, Usagi felt whole again. Embedding it in her memory for ever, she smelt his lingering fragrance. Roses. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Finished! Hope you enjoy. Remember, e-mail is good! @}--->------