Strangers In Paradise
By Klutz
P1. Rat g/pg				
					Oh the Rhythm of My Heart
					Is beating like a Drum		
					Where the words I love
					Keep rolling off my tongue.
					No never will I roam
					For I know my place is home	
					Where the Ocean meets the Sky
					I'll be sailing


	Usagi flipped the white rope off its clip and reached over the side of
the small sailing boat to tie it around the dock post.  Slipping it
into a quick knot, she grabbed her bag off the floor and as her cat
Luna jumped onto her shoulder, stepped up out of the boat.
	The boat was the Saint; she had saved up and bought it three years
ago.  Usagi loved sailing.  It was an escape from her work and life, a
much needed break.  Don't get me wrong, she loved her job.  She ran a
small jewelry store on third street east.  She got to help people pick
out rings to propose with, she was sealing fates all over this city. 
The store might have been small, but it was high-class, friendly, homey
even.  People recommended it to their friends because of the easy-going
atmosphere.  They loved it.  But even Usagi needed a break from the
store once in awhile, so she bought a boat.  When she sailed, she was
free.  She could go anywhere, do anything with no one but her cat and
'first mate' Luna.  Sailing was her home away from home, a place torelax.
	Usagi slipped the shoulder strap over the shoulder Luna wasn't
occupying and started to walk home.  John, the dock attendant, would
make sure nothing happened to her boat until the next time she cameback.  
	The streets were almost empty at this time in the afternoon.  The sun
was setting, and most people had already closed shop for the day. 
Usagi was no exception.  Her store, The Silver Lining, closed early on
Saturdays so she could sail.  Most everyone who shopped there finished
his or her purchases before that time [3 pm] anyways.  
	Usagi lived in a paradise, she owned a small but successful business,
her apartment was in the nice part of town, her friends were
supportive, her cat never complained.  But there was something missing.
 She had never met that one person she wanted to spend her life with,
and doubted she would.  The only men she met on a daily basis were
shopping for engagement rings or were happily married.  
	Usagi sighed and opened her apartment door, slipped off her shoes. 
Luna jumped off her perch and sauntered into the bathroom where her
litter box was.  The bag slipped off Usagi's shoulder and onto the
couch as she made her way into the kitchen, pouring out a glass of
water and looking out the window.  The sun was set, the day was over. 
She was tired, but doubted she could sleep yet.  Swallowing the last of
the glass, she wandered into her living room again and absently hit
'play' on the answering machine.  
	Beep!  "Hey Usagi-chan, It's Rei, I know you're free tomorrow with the
store closed and all, so we were all wondering if you wanted to have a
girls night out with us?  Call me." 
	Beep!  Usagi hit delete.  She could call Rei-san in the morning.
	Beep! "Usagi-chan, it's your mother.  You haven't called me today, are
you out sailing again?" Sigh.  "Call me okay?  A mother needs to know
how her only daughter is doing once in awhile."  
	Beep!  Usagi hit the delete key again.  Her mother was a bit
over-zealous when it came to her well being.  She'd call her after she
checked this last message.
	Beep!  "Miss Tsukino?" a strange voice spoke on the tape, "This is Mr.
Motoki Furuhata from Chiba Associates Incorporated.  Mr. Chiba is very
interested in your store and would like to set up a meeting to talk to
you about the possibility of selling it.  Please call me back as soon
as you have the time.  You can reach me at 569-7116 during business
hours, or after work at 607-6564.  Thank you for your time."
	Beep!  Well that was interesting.  There was no way in heck she would
sell, but she would have to call him back.  First things first though,
her mother.  Usagi grabbed the cordless off the table, dialed, placed
it between her shoulder and her ear, and wandered into the kitchen fora snack.  
	Ring,…Ring,… Rin-"Moshi-Moshi?" her mother asked.  Usagi smiled.
	"Hi Mom, it's Usagi-chan." She said calmly and opened a cupboard. 
Where had she put those chocolatey cookies she liked so much?
	"Usagi-chan, where have you been?  I called you when you usually got
home but no one picked up!" her mother scolded.  Usagi grinned and
pulled the box out from behind her cereal.
	"I was out sailing mom, you know I always go out Saturday evenings on
The Saint, but you still call me every time!"  She laughed.  "And you
say I'm forgetful!" 	"Well, I worry!  Besides, there was a chance- "
	"Mom, there's never a chance.  Come on, you know that better than I
do!  Now what did you call about?"
	"Well, your father and I were hoping you would join us for dinner on
Thursday.  Say around 7?" she asked hopefully.
	"Sure mom, sounds great.  I've got to go though so I'll see you then!
Sayo!"   Usagi hung up before her mother could get into topics she
didn't want to discuss, such as why she wasn't engaged yet.
	"607-6564…" Usagi repeated, popped a cookie in her mouth, dialed andswallowed.
	"Moshi-Moshi, Furuhata residence." A sweet, small voice answered.  'A
daughter.' Usagi noted with a smile.
	"Kon-wa, may I speak to Furuhata Motoki, please?" she asked clearly. 
The child paused.
	"Hai, one moment please!"  There was a click as the phone was set
down, probably on a table, and small footsteps running away.  "Papa,
there's a phone call for you!"
	A moment or two latter there were two clicks as the man picked up, and
the daughter hung up.	"Moshi-Moshi?"
	"Kon-wa Mr.Furuhata, this is Tsukino Usagi, I believe you called me
earlier today." 
	"Ah, Ms. Tsukino!  Could we set up a time for you to meet with Mr.Chiba?"
	"Well, actually, I don't really plan on selling sir.  I am sorry."  
She could practically hear him think.
	"Well even so, he would appreciate it if you would meet with him. 
There will be no pressure to sell, but he would like to speak to you. 
Mr. Chiba appreciates a good business, and he admires your work."
	Usagi weighed the possibilities in her mind and decided it couldn't
really hurt.  "In that case Mr.Furuhata - "	"Please, call me Motoki."
	"Motoki-san, I think I am free Wednesday morning around eight."
	"That sounds wonderful.  I'll tell Mr. Chiba right away."  He
proceeded to give her directions, then wished her a goodnight and hungup.  
	Usagi popped another cookie in her mouth and decided it was time forbed.
	~SUNDAY~	Usagi walked down the ramp to her dock and waved to John.  The aging
man smiled and waved back as she stepped into The Saint and set Luna
down on the seat next to hers.  She unfurled the sails, tied up the
loose ropes, adjusted everything according to the wind, untied the
boat, flipped the buoys over the side and set out.
	She had called Rei that morning to tell her she could make it to the
sleep over and she'd even bring a sappy romance for them to watch.  Rei
had seemed happy and told her that Mako-chan was cooking for them that
night, which made Usagi smile even now.  Makoto was the best cook.  
	Usagi only sailed for about an hour before returning to the dock
feeling restless.  There was something else she was supposed to be
doing, she just couldn't remember what. 
	Tying the sails up and securing all the loose ends, she steered into
her space and waited for the small 'thump' that told her she could tie
up to the dock.  She loosed the rope from its clip and reached for the
dock post, but her fingers were just centimeters away from reaching it.
 A shadow fell over her as a large tan hand took the rope from her.
	"Let me." The person said.  Usagi looked up.  A man was kneeling on
the dock tying her docking rope to the dock post.  Short dark hair with
loose bangs fell over midnight blue eyes the color of the sky at night.
 Usagi loved that color.  'Not that it has anything to do with the fact
that this man is completely gorgeous!' she thought wryly to herself and
smiled, grabbing her bag and letting Luna hop up on her shoulder.
	"Thanks," she said and when he stood up, offered her hand.  "I'm
Usagi." She finished, smiling.  He grinned back and shook her hand
firmly, sending involuntary shivers up her spine.
	"Mamoru.  It's nice to meet you Usagi."
	Mamoru liked this girl already, he could tell.  She was bright and
cheery and had eyes the color of the sea she sailed on, not to mention
blonde hair and a figure that could shame the latest models in France.
	"You like sailing?" he asked, gesturing to her boat. "The Saint,
that's a good name. She looks like a fine ship." He commented.  She
smiled proudly.
	"I painted her myself, thank you.  Yes, I like sailing, it's a good
escape from work every once in awhile.  Do you?"
	He blinked.  "Sorry?"
	"Like sailing." 
	"Oh!  Yes, but I've never worked with a sailboat before.  Mostly I
sail motorized boats." He said ruefully.  As a boy he had always wanted
to learn how to really sail, but hadn't had the time until recently. 
John, the dock attendant had pointed out this woman as someone he might
'learn to sail from, but maybe get to know her better on a more
personal basis too'.  Mamoru had blushed but talked to her anyway, and
was glad he had.  "I always wanted to learn though."
	"I could teach you if you'd like?  I get off around seven on week
nights." She offered.  
	"That sounds great, I think I'll take you up on that!" he replied.  
	"Great!  I'll see you here tomorrow then, but right now I have to get
home.  Bye!" she called cheerfully, and jogged off home, waving to John
on her  way. He smiled and waved back.  
	John had been working at these docks since he was ten.  He didn't have
much schooling, but he knew how to work with people.  Usagi was someone
he wanted to see happily settled, and he had a feeling this man was the
one.  John smiled.  Maybe now Usagi wouldn't always be sailing alone
with her cat from now on.

To be continued
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