The Earth, The Moon, A Fighting Star - A Sailor Moon Fanfiction

Chapter 05

"I'm so sorry that Mamoru treated you that way, Odango." Usagi knew Seiya was lying, but she appreciated the words all the same.

They sat together at a bench overlooking the lake in Inokashira Park. Even though the trails were filled with people and the water was filled with couples paddling in swan boats, no one expected Sieya Kou of the Three Lights to be hanging so casually in such a public area-- so they went completely unbothered.

The laughter coming from the couples in the boats grated Usagi's ears. She knew her face was swollen and she looked like a red balloon; she could feel how tight the skin was on her cheeks, and still wet with tears that continued to fall every once in a while.

"Tell me about your concert in Osaka," she said, desperate to talk about anything but Mamo-chan.

Seiya placed his hands behind his head and looked up at the sky. "It was great, actually. The whole music festival was a lot of fun, the food was great, the crowd was into us. The only thing missing was you." He smiled, then stole a glance at her to give her a wink.

Now her cheeks were red for a different reason. How could this stranger from another world make her emotions turn on a dime like that?

He smiled that sexy rockstar smile he always gave her, obviously picking up on her reaction. "Odango, when was the last time you were out on a date? Like a proper, all-fun, no-business, night-on-the-town, real date?" She stared at him blankly while she tried to think back, and her silence made him shake his head. He extended his hand out to her. "Come on. We're resetting that clock right now, and will reset it again tomorrow. And every day after that."

Usagi liked fun. Usagi liked romance. Usagi was into every word Seiya had just used to describe a date. And as soon as she slid her hand into his, they were off.

--

With Seiya's long hair wrapped up in a bun beneath his hat and sunglasses to cover his startling blue eyes, no one gave him a second glance as they entered Inokashira Park Zoo. "Let's look at a few of the animals quickly," Seiya said with a wide smile as he checked his watch, "and then we have a very important stop to make."

Usagi's sadness lifted at the sight of all the adorable animals. Penguins, foxes, and monkeys were among her top favorites. Though Seiya was a celebrity himself, she laughed as he lost his mind at the sight of the capybaras. "You're completely starstruck!" she said as he tried to reach over and pet one in its enclosure. "And you're going to get us in trouble!" she added with a playful swat.

"Fine, fine. But I have a whole collection of these at home and I've never seen one in real life!" As he drew his hand back over the enclosure wall, he checked his watch again. "It's time. Come on."

Usagi squealed as he led her to an area that read GUINEA PIG PETTING ZOO. "If we can't touch the big ones, at least we can pet the minis," he said with a wink. As soon as the clock hit 1:30, gates in a large pen opened and guinea pigs of all shapes, sizes, and colors flooded into the area, cooing and hopping and begging to be pet. They took turns picking up and exchanging the small animals, and Usagi felt completely at ease as they purred against her in a sweet guinea pig way as she pet their sides. "Yaten told me he planned to take Minako here soon. I'm glad I got to take you first," Seiya said with a wide smile, which she returned in kind.

Their next stop as still within the park: a restaurant that was hidden among the trees and shrubs that defined the park's borders, up on a hill and completely hidden from view unless one knew where to look. "How do you know about these spots?" Usagi asked. "You're not even, you know, from around here?"

Seiya let out a loud laugh. "Perhaps not, but I can read. 25 Romantic Places to Take Your Lover in Tokyo. It's a handy book to have."

Usagi blushed. But it was indeed romantic, and the food was incredible.