She stared at him intently, as she wondered how he 
had kept this up for so long.

	He had continued to keep his promise about their 
'day'.  

	For the past week they had always met on Thursday, 
always having the day to themselves.  Sometimes Naoko 
came along, and respected their time together, never saying 
anything against them having this day – 'Naoko is so 
perfect for him.'  She had thought, as she looked ahead, out 
to the main window of the car.

	'She's so beautiful and perfect for him.  I can't help 
but admit that they seem as if they were meant to be.'  Her 
eyes looked downcast upon the thought.  'But I can't help 
but wish that not to be…'  Naoko was a compassionate 
straight foreword person that loved Mamoru wish so much 
passion and emotion – and even though she tried to hate 
her, she could not.  She had done nothing to her but make 
Mamoru happy.

	'Oh Mamo-chan…

		I 
		 	love
		   		you'

(Ea:  Are you getting the pattern of this section?)

	~~~

You can hardly wait to tell all your friends 
How his kisses taste sweet like wine 
And how he always makes your heart skip a beat 
Every time he walks by 
And if you feeling down 
He'll pick you up 
He'll hold you close 
When you're makin' love 
He's every thing you've been dreaming of 
Oh Baby... 

CHORUS: 
I wish you'd look at me that way 
Your beautiful eyes lookin' deep into mine 
Telling me more than any words could say 
But you don't even know I'm alive 
Baby to you all I am 
Is the invisible man 

You probably spend hours on the phone 
Talkin' 'bout nothing at all 
It doesn't matter what the conversation 
Just as long as he called 
Lost in a love so real 
And so sincere 
You wipe away each other's tears 
Your face lights up 
Whenever he appears 

(Invisible Man - 98 Degrees)

	~~~

	Lonely Lonely Heart
	Chapter 3
	By Lelu and Eternal Angel	
	Etlchsieh@aol.com, Usako9@hotmail.com
	http://cherryblossoms.cjb.net/

	~~~

	"Usa-ko," his voice wrapped around her mind so 
delicately as she turned her head to face him, her eyes 
blazing into his deep midnight ones as the colors of the 
sunset surrounded them.  His hands were on the steering 
wheel as he drove his red convertible towards their friend's 
house.  "Is something wrong?  You seem distant – if you 
feel ill, I can take you home… Motoki won't miss us that 
much, he'll be to busy entertaining his guests."

	"Iie, iie, I was only think of things Mamo-chan, you 
don't need to worry about me, I'm perfectly fine."  She let 
out a happy smile as he nodded in reply, adverting his 
attention back to the road as the turned into the driveway, 
finding one spot left, surprisingly.  Gullible 

	"I think Motoki RSVP this spot for us," Mamoru 
said with a laugh, as in front of them was a sign, 'Mamo-
Usa parking space'.  Usagi sat there and blinked. 'Mamo-
Usa…Yes, that's the way it should me, Mamo-chan. Just 
you and me.' Instead, she shook her head and laugh, "How 
hysterical… And you were saying that he wouldn't miss us 
if we were not to come."  She said with a smile playing 
upon her face.

	Mamoru shrugged, "Dunno, Motoki's just weird like 
that…"

	"But, we love him anyways."  She finished up for him, 
as he nodded, the two entering the party as she looked up 
at him once more, her baby blues staring so intently at him.  
He was so carefree, so beautiful, with a heart so thick and 
bold.  'He's going to make one girl so happy… oh Kami, 
how I wish it would be me.'  

	~~~

	She stood in the corner, her eyes looking around at 
everyone.  She didn't feel like lingering with the others, she 
wanted to be alone right now, to let the loneliness pull her 
away from the rest of the world so she could just think 
about everything that was happening to her…

	She recalled the argument Makoto and her had had 
previously today as another letter from France came along.

"They really want to you Usa!"  Makoto's voice was high 
and singsong, as she looked at the letter, and back at her 
enthusiastic friend.  Her heart thumped with such notation.  
'They want me-' but her thoughts had stopped as her heart 
began to think once more, as it always did.  She always let 
her heart decided, for she believed that your heart is never 
wrong.

"I don't know Mako, I mean, I don't think I would like 
this experience.  I don't know anyone, and well, I don't 
think I'm quite ready for all this."  She answered, as 
Makoto's eyes narrowed down at her, ready to pounce.  
"Not ready?!  Oh Kami Usa!  You know this is what you 
want!!  You have AMI there!  Remember, she's a doctor 
and you two always got along for so long!  And you won't 
miss us – you can always visit.  Girl, think about it, this 
internship is such a wonderful opportunity for you!  It 
opens up a new window for you?  Think about it, your job 
does not help you at all.  What do you do there?  Errands.  
You have to bring this over there and that over here.  
Usagi, you have such potential, don't put it in waste!"

"Demo, I don't know, I'm so confused!  I want to go, but I 
don't want to… It is a good opportunity, but then I won't 
get to be with…" she looked away, clutching the letter 
tightly.  Makoto gathered her friend in her arms.  "This is 
what it's all about ne Usa?  Mamoru.  Why don't you tell 
him how you feel?"

She pulled away from her friend, "How can I tell a person 
that I known for all my life that I am 'madly, deeply, 
passionately in love' with him?  The guy that I have been 
through everything with, the one that lets me cry on his 
shoulder when I feel like dying?  Anyways, he's thinking 
about proposing to Naoko – what use is it anyways?  He's 
too hung up on Naoko to even notice me…"

"Usagi-"

But her voice was drowned out by her friend's heart 
retching sobs.

	She snapped out of reality as a song drifting around 
her, sucking her into its atmosphere and it's sorrow.  

"Have you ever been in love
 Been in love so bad
 You'd do anything to make them understand
 Have you ever had someone steal your heart away
 You'd give anything to make them feel the same
 Have you ever searched for words to get you in their heart
 But you don't know what to say
 And you don't know where to start

"Have you ever loved somebody so much 
 It makes you cry
 Have you ever needed something so bad
 You can't sleep at night
 Have you ever tried to find the words
 But they don't come out right
 Have you ever, have you ever

"Have you ever found the one
 You've dreamed of all your life
 You'd do anything to look their eyes
 Have you finally found the one you've given your heart to
 Only to find that one won't give their to you
 Have you ever closed your eyes and
 Dreamed that they were there
 And all you can do is wait for that day when they will 
care…"

	She took the cup in her hand, as she began to drink 
the punch that was held within it.  Her mind spun with 
everything that was happening as she refilled it and 
continued to drink it up, as one sentence filled her mind, 
'Have you ever…Yes,' she thought with bitter irony. 'I 
have.'

	~~~

	He didn't think she'd end up this bad… he only left 
her alone for twenty minutes.  But the next think he knew 
she stood, sitting on the couch, her hand holding onto it 
tight as she prayed for the world to stop spinning on her.  
"Usa-ko, what's the matter…"  he had asked, as she 
groaned in reply.

	"You didn't drink the punch, did you?"  She groaned 
louder this time, as he shook his head.  "Usa-ko, you 
should know that they spike it…" She groaned a long and 
agonizing moan as he shook his head.  

	"Never did I think I would see the day that you 
would be intoxicated right in front of me," she looked up 
and glared at him, as he shook his head in reply.  He 
sighed, helping her up, as she smiled at him gratefully.

 "Rei thinks you're hot."  

	He stared at her strangely, as he recalled his meeting 
with Rei.  It was not the most pleasant, for she had glared 
at him, giving him the third degree, "My dear, you are 
truly, madly, raving drunk."  With those words, he called 
out to his best friend, "Motoki, I'm taking Usa-ko home, 
she had a little too much to drink…"

	Motoki nodded in acknowledgement as the two 
stumbled out, as Usagi continued to babble continuously.  
He led to the car, as he drove her home.  "France… 
hmm… far far far away… is that why it starts with a F?"  

	Mamoru continued to drive, drowning Usagi's endless 
babbling with music.  He looked at her, noticing that he 
was blocking off the sound of silence now, as he saw the 
blond looking out of the window, staring intently at the 
silver moon.  "I wonder if there is life upon the moon…" 
she said softly, as her hands slowly touched the glass of the 
window at where the moon looked like it was.  "I wish I 
could be living the moon… it seems to serene…"

	She sighed, "Mamo-chan, don't you wish you lived on 
the moon?"

	He groaned.

	~~~

	'How does she do it?'  He wondered, as he carried her 
into the apartment easily.  'She is so thin and fits in my 
arms so perfectly—I wonder where does all the food she 
stuffs inside her go?  Wow, she has high metabolism…' 
His leaned his leg onto the wall, as he shifted the weight 
that was on his right arm to the leg as he took out his keys 
from his pocket.  With that, he opened the door, closing it 
with his leg as soon as he went in.  He put her in her room, 
as she sunk into her bed so elegantly, as she looked so 
innocent-

	He sighed, "Usa-ko, you are a handful."

	With the sound of her name, she softly opened her 
eyes, "Mamo-chan…" He smiled at her. "Hey Usa-ko, 
how are you feeling?"

	"Fine fine," she said softly, as her head spun, "or 
not…"  She giggled profoundly, "You know what Mamo-
chan?"  She said in a low pitch as he raised an eyebrow.  

"What?"

	She whispered three words into his ears.  

	"I love you."

	"Nani?"  He said incredibly, as she looked up, "I love 
you Mamo-chan, ever since I was thirteen – Hehehe…" 
she said, her eyes looking through him, "but you never 
cared…" she said, her face downcast.  "But it doesn't 
matter, as long as I can be by your side…"

	She closed her eyes as she took a deep breath.

	"…as long as you are happy…"

	She drifted off.

	He stared in shock.  

	'She *loves* me?'

	~~~

	She now knew what a hangover was.  She now 
concluded with something, NEVER drink punch.  She 
trudged out of the bathroom and into the kitchen where 
Mamoru sat, sipping coffee and reading the newspaper.  
"Very professional looking Mamo-chan."  She told him a 
he looked up at her in surprise, as he swallowed hard.

	"Are you feeling better?"  He asked, as she nodded, he 
watched her, as his mind spun.  'I love you Mamo-chan…'  
That's what she said, and the words kept on haunting him.  
'Maybe she was drunk and didn't know what she was 
saying…' and yet…

	"Usa-ko… yesterday, you said something and I was 
wondering if it was true or not.  It sounded a little too 
fabled to be real and… I…" she stared at him, not 
knowing what he was talking about, "Nani Mamo-chan?"

	"You said… umm… you said you loved me… you 
were playing right?"

	Those words stung her heart.

	'You were playing right?'

	Her head bobbed up and down as he sighed in relief.  
"Ohh, good."

	She felt like crying.

	~~~

	'You were playing right?'

	'Ohh, good…'

	"How inconsiderate pompous jerk that basterd is!"  
Makoto's voice rose high, as Minako tried to cool down 
her friend.  Usagi continued to look up at the empty 
ceiling.

	'A little too fabled…'

	'You were playing right?

	'Ohh, good.'

	Her mind spun.

	'A little too fabled…'

	'You were playing right?

	'Ohh, good.'

	'A little too fabled…'

	'You were playing right?

	'Ohh, good.'

	'He doesn't love me.' She thought, as she felt tears 
form her eyes.  'All this time of wishing and hoping and 
dreaming – but no, he doesn't love me…' she held on tight 
to the stuff rabbit in her hands.  'Why couldn't he have 
pretended that he had not heard…'

	Ever since that day after her awful hangover, they 
haven't talked much.  Everything was awkward… the 
silence between them.  It had been two weeks, and they 
haven't spent more than five minutes in each other's 
presence, and if they had, it was a miracle. There was too 
much looking away, and stuttering, so one of them would 
come up with an excuse to leave. She made up her mind.  
"I can't stand this anymore," she softly said, as the two 
girls looked at her, their squabbling ceased.  

	"I'm going to France.  I'm going away from all this.  
I'm going away from Mamoru… I can't stand this 
anymore.  One can only take enough."  Makoto said 
nothing as her friend began to pick up the phone as she 
dialed to the phone number written down on the notepad 
as Minako asked, "Are you sure of this?"

	Ever since that day, she had been thinking about 
doing this.  What was she to do?  Continue on living with 
a man that refused her?  Maybe others can handle this, but 
she was a very emotional person and could not handle the 
rejection.  "Hai. I'm positive."

	She then booked a flight for tomorrow night.

	~~~

	He sighed, as he looked at his watch.  It was the 
second Thursday that went by, as he began to feel terrible.  
'Oh god, I'm neglecting her once more -' He thought as he 
went into the apartment, closing the door behind him.  
Looking at his watch, he was sure that she was home, she 
was *always* home around now.  

	He looked around the apartment, the living room, the 
kitchen, the bathroom, and her room… but what had 
frightened him about her room was the fact that all of her 
important possessions were missing.

	He panicked.  

	He picked up the phone and began to dial a number, 
as a soft voice replied, "Moshi moshi?" 

	"Makoto-chan?  Where's Usa-ko?  She's not here… I 
can't seem to find her any where…!"  

	Makoto's breath became deeper.  

	"Mamoru-kun, you are such a fool!  You stabbed her 
in her heart!  Goddamn it, she *loves* you!!  She loves you 
so much!"  Makoto's voice screamed at him, as he felt like 
punching himself in the head.

	'A little too fabled…'

	'You were playing right?

	'Ohh, good.'

	He could recall the words that he had said, and the 
way he had blocked her face wincing in pain as he said 
those words.  "Where is she?  Onegai, please, I need to talk 
to her…"

	"To late.  It's too late Mamoru-kun."

	"Nani--?"

	"She's gone.  She left to France an hour ago."

	He screamed in frustration.

	~~~

	Hiya minna!  Oh gods, I got the sweetest emails and 
everything, so it willed me to write quicker!  I was to write 
this during spring break (hehehe… yes, yes, I'm an 
extremely lazy girl), but since I got such the wonderful 
email, I couldn't help but write this story ASAP!  Well, 
email is the best!!  *eternal angel

Hmph! Usa-chan took the liberty of practically writing this 
whole chapter! I felt so left out…::sniffles::…but, I must 
admit, I love this story (and- though I admit it rather 
grudgingly- Usa-chan, too). So, please, feedback is always 
good, and, like Usa-chan said, we really have been getting 
sweet e-mails! Keep them coming! ~Lelu~