Wassup everyone! Okay well you probably already know that this is the eighth part of my story and you probably know that I'm JLaLa. Okay thanks to Twilight and Violet Ice who are very,very supportive people and were there since the beginning. Also to Meriellen5 whose help keeps me writing. The girl is like my sister! To all the people on my mailing list who were nice enough to sign up, a big hug and kiss from me! To everyone who has written meeh, props to y'all! Okay if you wanna sign up for my mailing list, juss e-mail meeh and I'll give you an invitation! ^#%^!$(&*^)= translation: JLaLa does NOT own Sailormoon. Do not sue her, she's poor. < >=thinking PG-13= If you're underage, read at your own risk. "Where there is love there is life." -Mahatma Gandhi "Love has no limits and no regrets." -Writer Unknown "Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself. Love possesses not nor would it be possessed; For love is sufficient unto love." -Kahlil Gibran Here's the little part I like to call the "Tears In Heaven" Soundtrack. If you have any of the songs I put in each chapter then listen to them: Tears In Heaven Sung by Eric Clapton Look at Me Sung by Geri Halliwell Last Dance Sung by Allure Wind Beneath My Wings Sung by Bette Midler It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday Sung by Boyz II Men Are those your eyes, is that your smile I've been lookin' at you forever But I never saw you before Are these your hands holdin' mine Now I wonder how I could of been so blind For the first time I am looking in your eyes For the first time I'm seein' who you are I can't believe how much I see When you're lookin' back at me Now I understand why love is... Love is... for the first time... Can this be real, can this be true Am I the person I was this morning And are you the same you It's all so strange how can it be All along this love was right in front of me For the first time I am looking in your eyes For the first time I'm seein' who you are I can't believe how much I see When you're lookin' back at me Now I understand why love is... Love is... for the first time... Such a long time ago I had given up on findin' this emotion... Ever again But you live with me now Yes I've found you some how And I've never been so sure And for the first time I am looking in your eyes For the first time I'm seein' who you are Can't believe how much I see When you're lookin' back at me Now I understand why love is... Love is... for the first time... -Sung by Kenny Loggins TEARS IN HEAVEN (Part Eight) By: JLALA (jlynpinay@aol.com) Usagi did not like a lot of things, like when her mom had made her get up early on Saturdays. Or when she had to go to work at eight o' clock in the morning. This was something she hated so much, that it made her sick to the stomach just thinking about it. Studying. She was studying on a SATURDAY. Why of all the days did Mamoru pick a Saturday to tutor her? Beats her. The book in front of her was filled with enough math problems to last her a lifetime. She thought she had gotten past all that in high school. Boy was she wrong. "Mamo-chan, why do we have to do this?" She asked in a whiny voice. Mamoru smiled at her high pitched voice. It had been awhile since anyone had heard her whine and he for one was glad to hear it. A month had passed and little by little Usagi began to go on with her life. She still visited Motoki everyday and kept his picture in her room however. Mamoru admired the pissed off look on her face. He loved when she looked angry or bored or anything. Hell, she was beautiful no matter what. "I don't know about you but I'd be doing whole lotta other stuff instead of studying" "Okay, okay. Let's take a walk." He answered and Usagi got up to get her coat. It was late afternoon in June but there was still a breeze. As they headed out the building and down the street they never noticed the glances they were getting from people. Everyone turned to look at the handsome couple. An hot dark-haired guy and a gorgeous blond. What a combo. "So what do you wanna do?" "Let's just walk", she responded and gave him a grin. Her eyes sparkled and he felt his heart melt. "So I hear someone has a birthday coming up", Mamoru said and glanced at her. In a week Usagi would be turning twenty, the time had gone fast. "What are you getting me?" She asked coyly. They had reached the park and sat down on a near bench. As Usagi sat down a single red rose laid near her. She picked it up and caressed the rose petals on her lips. Her eyes were closed feeling the smooth touch of the flower. Mamoru watched her enraptured and wished for a moment that he was that rose. Just to feel her lips near him. "It's sad that someone left this rose. It's the sign of love, you know" A sad look crossed her face. Suddenly it became obvious what to give her for her birthday. ********************************************************************* Sitting in the grass, Usagi let the tears that she held fall from her lovely face. Touching the gravestone she traced the engraved letters on it. "I miss you so much", she said quietly. "Everyone is happy that I'm getting better but it's hard. I keep thinking that one day I'm just gonna find you here with me. Holding my hand." She wiped her face. "My birthday is tommorrow. I can believe I'm turning twenty but I feel like I'm forty. My first birthday without you" Usagi laid her head on the grass. "I love you, don't forget that." Sitting up she put her hand to her mouth then press it against the stone. "Mamo-ch-I mean Mamoru has been helping me out, I was always saying that he had something stuck up his ass but I guess I was wrong." She laughed lightly and thought about Mamoru's smiling face and his dark eyes... "Well don't tell him that though" Usagi stood up and somehow she didn't feel so sad. Her thoughts were on Mamoru and for once she left smiling. ********************************************************************** Stretching Usagi rubbed her eyes; Waking up in her old bed was nice but uncomfortable. First of all she had grown a few inches and could no longer fit in her bed. Her feet were in midair all night. Throwing the sheets off she grimaced hoping that the floor wasn't cold. As she was about to put to the floor she stopped when she realized she was surrounded by ROSES, dozens and dozens of roses. There were petals on her bed and vases on her dresser. They were EVERYWHERE. Usagi sat back on her bed, her eyes wide. "Oh my goodness", she said in disbelief. Who did this? Usagi's face burst into a smile and she began to laugh in happiness. It was all so beautiful. But why? 'Because he loves you' The voice inside her said. He couldn't. Could he? She put a hand on her bed and found an envelope near her. Opening it she read the note: To the most beautiful rose. Love, Mamoru Usagi put the note to her chest and smiled. Something bothered her though. Like why did she like the thought that Mamoru might be in love with her? *********************************************************************** Ikuko pushed her cart along the aisle of the supermarket. Tonight was Usagi's big dinner, it was hard to believe that her baby girl was twenty. How the times change. She was so lost in thought that she almost crashed into someone. "Gomen! I was so distracted. You see it's my daughter's birthday and I was just thinking-" "Mrs.Tsukino?"Mamoru said and smiled at the woman. "Mamoru, I didn't even realize it was you", she said. She liked the young man. They had met at the hospital when Usagi had been taken to the hospital. Mamoru to her was very protective and caring towards Usagi which she suspected had something to do with the fact that he was in love with her. Who else would clean out Tokyo full of it's rose supply but a man who was in love. Maybe it was her but Usagi seemed to be in love with him too but some part of herself held on Motoki. "Would it be alright if I asked you something?" "Of course", he said as they walked along the aisle. "You're in love with my daughter, aren't you?"Ikuko said unhesitantly. Mamoru bowed his head to hide the blush that reddened his cheeks. "Am I that obvious?" He asked her and she patted his shoulder. "Mamoru, you cleaned out the city of all it's roses and woke up five o' clock in the morning to put them in her room", she said to him. "Even Kenji knows you love her, if you didn't he would have shot you for even going near her bedroom!" "It's obvious to everyone else but HER", Mamoru answered. "She still loves Motoki" He looked at Ikuko with sad eyes. "You know I always thought Motoki was the luckiest guy on earth, it's only now do I realize how lucky he was" "She loves you Mamoru but she doesn't even know it yet. There's something in her that's so loyal to Motoki that loving anyone else would mean betraying him. I see it though. Deep in her heart she's kept a place for you. Just be careful with her heart Mamoru. Give her time." "I've wait an eternity for her." He said softly. "You're a good person", Ikuko said. "It's gonna happen soon, I know it" Mamoru nodded, when she got an idea. "Mamoru, we're gonna need someone to take Usagi to her present. Perhaps you could do it." "Of course", he agreed and she told him what she had in mind. Crossing her fingers that somehow just somehow what she had in mind would work. ********************************************************************** "Where are we going?"Usagi asked as she wore the tight blindfold around her eyes. The roses were one thing but this was crazy. "Should I be afraid?" As they walked into the building she was hit with the comforting warmness. "Don't worry, we're almost there" His breath against her neck and ears made something in her tingle. A sense of longing arose from her. Walking out of the elevator Usagi felt something about where they were that seemed familiar. "Okay I'm gonna take off your blindfold and then you could open your eyes" Mamoru removed her blindfold and Usagi opened her eyes to see that they were back in her apartment. She turned and smiled at him. "Happy Birthday Usako" "My parents bought me my apartment back!" She said happily but her smile faded. "Too bad the department stores took all the furniture back." The only thing that was there was a table with two silver covered platters and a pair of candleholders. A card for Usagi sat on the table. Picking it up she opened the card to see her mother's feminine, curvy handwriting. Dear Usagi, Happy birthday darling! Your father, Shingo and I are still buying the rest of your "presents". Your friends are helping us out. Minako swears she knows what you like and Rei is here to make sure she's not lying! We'll be back soon! Go ahead and eat without us. Mom "I can't believe they did this!" She exclaimed. Usagi walked around and went into her bedroom to see that a beautiful white dress hung from her door. It was above her ankles and the sleeves had a silky, delicate flower patterns on it. Quickly she put it on and then looked into the mirror. Somehow it didn't seem complete. Usagi decided to put her hair up in odangos. Now it was perfect. Walking into the living room she enjoyed the sight of seeing his jaw drop. "Hey stranger" She gave him a somewhat seductive smile. "Do I look okay?" "You look..." He hesitated. Beuatiful? Gorgeous? Breathtaking? It didn't seem right. She was more than that. "...indescriable" The tension between them was at its peak. They sat in their chairs. Mamoru lit the candles and he saw that a sparkle was in Usagi's eyes. The beauty in her was profound. They ate their dinner in silence and when it was finished their eyes met. Something was going to happen, it was inevitiable. She walked to a window and stared out at the lights of Tokyo. The moon hung high in the sky as a sprinkle of stars shimmered in the sky. "I use to look out this window all the time", Usagi recollected. Mamoru walked up till he was behind her. His warmth made a shiver go down her back. "Everything seemed different here." She wrapped her arms around herself. "It's cold tonight." "Here" Mamoru put his jacket around her arms and she looked up at him. She leaned against him and felt his heart beating wildly. Just like hers. Usagi turned around and gazed in his eyes. Their lips moved closer to each other's. "Usako?" "Yeah?"She asked as her eyes closed. "What would happen if I kissed you?"Mamoru whispered. "I don't know" Their lips met and a fire ignited between the two. They drank in each other like a sweet wine and Usagi opened her lips to let his tongue in. It was like a spark of electricity. Soon the kisses were on her neck and above her chest. She hadn't been kissed like this since... since Motoki. A wave of guilt washed over her. Usagi suddenly pushed him away. "I'm sorry. I can't do this." She got up and Mamoru took her hand. She turned to meet his eyes. "No, I'm sorry but I love you Usako and I know even though you won't say it that somehow you love me too", he said. Usagi's eyes filled with tears. How could she betray Motoki? He touched her face. "I'm not Motoki and I'm not trying to replace him. He'd never think you'd betrayed him, all he wanted was you to be happy." "You don't love me, it's just that you feel that you have to be with me since Motoki's gone", she said quietly. Mamoru felt a stab in his heart. He looked at her for a moment. "I don't love you because I have to or that I feel any obligation to", Mamoru said sincerely. "I love you pure and simply because I WANT to" Somehow he would prove it. With a final kiss on her forehead he left her alone. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I know this was sucky but please bear with me. I trying to to deal with school stuff right now so if you wanna yell at me please e-mail meeh! Alrighty then! Bye!