Disclaimer: the same as my others
But I do own this story----copyright Asuka
so don't take it ------ I mean it!

Asuka   ( egace@hotmail.com )

Stepping stones
Part 3

        "Flight #329 is boarding now for Tokyo, Japan."

        Usagi maneuvered her body and carryon bag
through the aisle, managing not to bump others who
were attempting to find there seat on the plane as well.
Her eyes remained focus on the numbers and letters
on the above compartments, searching for her individual
seat. She stopped at a small section located behind the
wings on the plane. Usagi opened a small envelope and
checked the number again before taking her seat.
        --Maybe I can get a few minutes of sleep before
Kevin arrives. I still don't know how he arranged to have
his seat next to mine.-- thought Usagi as she closed her eyes.
        --I guess I am really going home--

        Kevin lifted his bag over his head as he made his
way down the aisle to his seat. His eyes searched for the
familiar golden hair of his friend who he was to be seated
next to. A smile appeared on his face when he found
her asleep in her seat.
        "Usagi wake up." he whispered as he gently shook her.

        Her eyes opened slowly, looking up at Kevin angrily.
"Kevin..you woke me up."
        "You can't go to sleep yet." he said sitting down beside
her. "We haven't left the airport yet."
        Her eyes narrowed. "This is a long flight. I kinda wanted
to start on my nap before we takeoff."
        Kevin waved his hands and smirked. "Sorry."
        "Well since I am awake now, I guess I can give you this."
        Usagi opened her bag and brought out a small book. "Here."

        Kevin's eyes widened as he read the cover. "Easy Japanese.
Wait you're not going to help me?"

        Usagi laughed. "Maybe..."
        "Everyone please fasten you seat belts and notice
the flight attendant who will be demonstrating a few
safety procedures."

********************************************

---Tokyo

        "Mamoru-kun you do not look good at all."
        Mamoru covered his head with his arms. "I have
been working the 'late-night' shift for three weeks.
Should I look good?"

        Motoki patted Mamoru's head. "Well maybe the
latest news will cheer you up."

        "What news?"

        "Your girlfriend is coming back home!"

        "Say that again?"

        "Your girlfriend is coming back home!"

        Mamoru shifted in his seat. Motoki's antics
usually cheered him up but this time was the exception.

        Motoki frowned. Mamoru was not responding
as he hoped. "I heard from Mina that she is coming
back later today. At about 3:30 I think. Aren't you
happy? You're going to see your girlfriend!"

        Mamoru winced at the thought of seeing
Usagi again. He had been upset at her for deciding
to leave the country for her education and he refused
to communicate with her after she departed.
        "Yeah , yeah. I'm happy. Ecstatic." Mamoru
muttered and stood from his seat. "Look Motoki, I'll see
you later all right?"

        "Mamoru? Is there something wrong? You're
still not upset about her leaving..."

        "No, I'm fine. I am going to find Mina."

        Motoki shrugged as his friend walked towards the
door. "He can't hide his feelings forever."
*******************************************

        "Attention passengers 10 minutes till we land
in Tokyo"

        "Mm?"

        "The time now in Tokyo is 3:12 p.m."

        Usagi shook Kevin's shoulder gently. "Kevin wake
up. We'll be landing soon."

        Kevin's eyes opened slowly. "Huh?"

        "We are going to land in a few minutes."

        His eyes widened. "Oh no. Usagi why didn't you
wake me sooner?" he said flipping the pages of his book
desperately. "I knew I should not have decided
to take a nap. I only got to page twelve in this book."

        Usagi closed a small blue notebook she had
been scribbling in on her lap. "You asked me to not wake
you. I was just doing what you asked."

        Kevin placed the book in his bag. "Well, thank you."

        "You're welcome."

        ---"Everyone please put your seats in the
upright position. We about to land..."

***************************************

        Makoto grumbled to herself as she and
Mina stood before the gate where their friend
was to arrive from. After being awakened so early
in the morning Mako was not in the mood to wait.
She looked about the area and noticed that people
were staring. Maybe because her
blond-haired counter part was waving a brightly
colored sign.

        "Mina is it really necessary that we
hold a sign? I think she is expecting us here."

        Mina frowned. "Come on Mako-chan, its
been two years since we've seen her."

        Mako smiled then yawned. "If you hadn't
woke me at 6 a.m. I would probably be a little
more enthusiastic."

        Mina smirked and continued waving her
poster madly before gate 45. Mako rolled her eyes,
"The flight doesn't come in for another five minutes."

        "Fine." Mina said defeated. "I'll sit down."
She gently placed the poster on the floor beside the seat
Mako was occupying. She sighed as she leaned back in
the chair, watching the terminal clock.
        "Hey Mako-chan, I forgot to mention that Mamoru
is coming."

        "Mamoru? I thought he was too busy to talk to us
anymore."

        Mina placed her hands behind her head. "Apparently
he's not that busy. He found out from Motoki that Usagi was
returning today. Mamoru called me and *said* that he was coming."

        "Well he better show up soon. The plane is approaching
the gate now."

***************************************************

        Mamoru walked silently thorugh the terminal, scanning
the gate numbers above him. In his hand was a bouquet of
long-stemmed roses, for the girlfriend he believed he pushed away.
His breathing increase once he saw Usagi's friends. He knew that
they talked about his behavior, something Mamoru was not proud of.
But today that was going to change. He was about to greet
them when a airline representative spoke into the microphone.

        "Flight #329 from Baltimore, Maryland, USA, has arrived.
Please move away from the gate doors."

        Mina grabbed her sign and stood to her feet. Mako
smiled at Mamoru as Mina began waving her sign. "I know
Usagi will be happy to see you."

        Mamoru nodded. "I know I will."

        "There she is!"

        Mamoru stared at the woman approaching them.
She shook her long blond ponytail as she stuggled to hold
onto her large bag. She was dressed in a thin white blouse,
top button undone and a pair of  black jeans. He began to
walk forward to greet the woman he hadn't seen for two years
only to stop short as someone quickly stepped up beside her
and took her bag. The person with Usagi right
now looked to be close to her age but Mamoru suspected
he was older. For a moment everything inside Mamoru was
calm as he looked at the pair.

        Then he saw red.


        Sorry for this taking so long to
get this out..Let me know how I am doing..
I like e-mail :) Oh and visit my alter-ego's
website at http://www.geocities.com/tokyo/pagoda/6853

Asuka