DISCLAIMER: If only
WORDCOUNT: 808
SUMMARY: G. post-anime. Haruka's pov on Usagi.
FEEDBACK: Pretty!

Written for the 'Sometimes people carry to such perfection the mask they have assumed that in due course they actually become the person they seem. -- W. Somerset Maugham' challenge at SMMonthly (LJ community)

MISSING THE ODANGO
by Leni

"Want some extra?" It's phrased like a question, but Motoki is already reaching for the can of whipped cream.

Minako and Makoto look at Usagi in warm-hearted envy, then in surprise when their friend shakes her head.

Motoki blinks, too. "O-kay." As a half-eaten ice-cream bowl is pushed towards him, he finds Minako's pleading eyes and smiles graciously. "Sure, you can have some too, Mina-chan."

Makoto puts forward her own bowl, and even Haruka decides that extra whipped cream goes great with her banana split. "You're not on some diet, are you?" she asks Usagi as she shovels into her plate with gusto. At seventeen, Usagi is one of the loveliest girls Haruka's ever met; second only to Michiru. Between her natural complexion and the exercise Luna puts her through, weight should be the last is Usagi's worries. If it's a diet, Haruka intends to have a stern conversation with Mamoru. In her experience, when any of these girls has a self-esteem problem, it's always a guy's fault – and Mamoru is the only guy in Usagi's life.

"Not really." Indeed, the blonde teenager is happily biting into a spoonful of ice-cream. "I just have a chocolate craving," and she glances sideways at Michiru's brownie. Haruka's girlfriend smiles, cuts almost a half off and offers it to Usagi.

Usagi beams in pleasure.

A stray thought bothers Haruka, though. A year ago, Usagi would have taken Motoki's offer, craving or not.


She's growing up. Changing.

In this ordinary moment, Haruka realizes that she will miss terribly the Odango Atama of years ago. The girl who raised hell when she was displeased. The one who cried and screamed and never completely kept up with her body's growth. The one who made equally big productions of her likes and dislikes. The sweetness, the laughter, the wide-eyed approach to life….

That girl is fading already, veiled under the graceful woman Usagi is trying to become.

And she will. Nobody, not even the Outer Senshi together, can be more stubborn and focused than their princess when she's made a decision. Ever since the battle against Galaxia, Usagi has tried to become the queen she knows she will be. Haruka understands that; a child must first play at being a grown-up.

Usagi's time to play is coming to an end. The persona she kept trying to become has slowly turned into the dominant one.

It's not a bad change.

The thrill for life, the happiness, the innate mercy in her... Haruka knows that all these qualities will still reside in the queen; Chibi-Usa's rare slips about the future are proof enough. That woman would still welcome her and Michiru despite their differences, she'd still believe in them though reason says otherwise. But the girl who ran into her for a hug, the one who still screams her throat raw when she cheers at the races...

That girl will not come back, will she?

"Hey. 'Ruka." A tap on her shoulder effectively brings Haruka out of her reverie. She raises her head to discover Michiru looking at her curiously. "Your dessert is melting," she says.

Haruka looks down. Her eyebrows raise in surprise. Apparently, she's been absently cutting the banana into pieces and letting them float in the vanilla ice cream. "Didn't notice."

"Where were you?" Michiru asks, amused. In front of them, Minako, Makoto and Usagi also smiled at Haruka's unusual display of woolgathering.

Haruka shrugs. "I guess I don't feel like having dessert, after all."


"And all that whipped cream will go to waste?" Usagi laments, blue eyes wide in mourning.

Another shrug.

The small blonde looks at her finished plate, then at the half-brownie she's already bitten into. "It looks so sad. All abandoned like that." With a decided look in her eyes, she reaches across the table for Haruka's bowl and steals it for herself.

Haruka gazes at the little thief with a fond look in her eyes. "All yours, Odango."

Usagi mumbles her thanks around a mouthful of gooey ice-cream. A second later, her eyes narrow a little, just taking notice of the hated nickname – but it's obviously not a major grievance anymore and lets it go without a comment. She swallows down and at the same time deflects Minako's fork, which was heading steadily to the brownie.

This offence does deserve a comment. "Mina-chan!" She takes the small plate in both hands and huddles it close to her body. "You are so meeeeeeeeeeeeeean!"

"Me?" Minako points at Usagi with her fork, her other hand at her waist. "You won't share!"

The two blondes glare at each other for a moment. Silence is short-lived, though, as it soon escalates into a full-blown squabble.

Makoto and Michiru seem to sink into their seats, red from embarrassment. Haruka looks at Usagi's flushed cheeks and for once doesn't wince at the volume.

Instead, she smiles.

Yes, she will miss the Odango Atama. Dearly. But as long as these occasional flashes come up, she'll enjoy the treat.

The End
04/04/08