Hold Me by the Heart

By: Xhibit B

Chapter One – Operation Cupid's Arrow

.i do not own sailor moon.

Nineteen-year-old Usagi Tsukino glanced around her, taking in the multitudes of Valentine's Day memorabilia that littered the store. Her face soured, resentment for the accursed "holiday" worming its way into her heart. All around her, couples were getting ready to profess undying love and devotion to their sweethearts with assortments of chocolates, flowers and stuffed animals, leaving the blond bitter that she wouldn't get to partake in the love fest that centered around February 14th again.

And she didn't like it one bit. Even her parents and little brother were going to be doing something for Valentine's Day. Usagi wanted to kick, scream and shut herself away in her bedroom until the accursed day was over and done with and everyone would go back to being their usual selves.

Ikuko must have noticed her daughter's sudden mood drop the moment that they walked into the grocery store, a sympathetic smile crossing her features as she placed a hand on her shoulder. Usagi jumped before she turned to look up at the blue haired woman. "Something on your mind, sweetheart?"

Usagi shook her head, her grip around the handle of the cart she pushed slacking. She hadn't even realized she'd been squeezing it so hard the entire time. "I'm fine Mom, I promise."

Ikuko smiled knowingly, stopping briefly to pick up several heart shaped boxes of chocolates and placed them in the cart. She didn't miss the look of distain her daughter shot them before her face went back to being as impassive as it had been before. Ikuko knew what was wrong with the teen, her head shaking as the two continued through the store. Perhaps one day, Usagi will find a nice young man that would make her change her mind about the holiday.

They'd stopped in the meat department, Ikuko comparing two cuts of roast in her hands when Usagi heard her name being called. She turned, blue eyes catching sight of her good friend Minako's long-term boyfriend rushing towards her, seemingly distressed. In his hands were several different boxes of chocolates, and immediately Usagi knew what he wanted. He'd ask her opinion on what chocolates to get the other blond, and Usagi would begrudgingly give him advice. He'd thank her and wish her well before going off to find something else to accompany the chocolates. And Usagi's bitterness would know no bounds. She steeled herself, prepared for the oncoming interaction.

"Hi Kunzite," Usagi greeted when the towering male stopped in front of her. Ikuko turned to see who it was her daughter was talking to, immediately recognizing him as the nice young man one of her best friends was dating. Her attention returned to the meat a moment later, leaving the two to talk. "What's up? You look like you're stressed."

"Stressed is putting it lightly," Kunzite replied, holding up the assorted boxes of chocolates. "I should be used to this by now and know what to get, but Minako is always changing her mind about something. Which assortment do you think she'd like best this year? I have Lindt, Cadbury, Ghirardelli and Godiva."

Usagi placed a finger to her lip, trying to think it through. He was right when he said that Minako was forever changing the things that she liked, making it nearly impossible to shop for the girl. "Well, I know she loves Ghirardelli, always has. But she's been big on Godiva recently. I'd go with that one. She stole my Godiva bar I had last week and practically inhaled it, so that's the safest bet I would say."

"Thanks, Usagi, you're a life saver. Have a good day," Kunzite gushed before he rushed away, mumbling something about whether to pick the flowers up now or wait until the day of.

Usagi sighed, shaking her head as he left. At least one of her friends would be happier than a clam in two weeks. She almost felt jealous. Almost. But she was happy for her friend. Kunzite was a nice guy, several years older than them but had always treated Minako with respect. She liked the tall brute of a man and was happy that her friend had found someone that made her happier than anything in the world.

She'd been so wrapped up in her thoughts that she didn't hear her mother coming back over until a package of meat was dropped in the cart. She jumped, turning to look at the blue haired woman. "C'mon, we've got to go to the dairy department then I have to pick up a loaf of bread, potatoes and some aftershave for your father then we'll head home."

Usagi nodded, pushing the cart as she followed her mother. The sooner they got out of this store and away from the accursed Valentine's Day goodies, the sooner Usagi would be in a better mood.

…

Usagi sighed as she leaned against the counter, blue eyes staring absently at the triple chocolate milkshake that sat in front of her. Not even the arcade she'd frequented practically her entire life had been spared from Valentine's Day decorations. Motoki Furuhata, a long-time worker at the arcade, had burst into a fit of laughter when Usagi walked in and sneered at the decorations as she made her way to the counter. He knew how much the blond hated the commercial holiday and really, he didn't blame her. He knew all about what was going on, why she hated the holiday so damn much.

"Wow, you're in that bad a mood you won't even drink your milkshake," Motoki hummed thoughtfully, drying a glass as he glanced her way. "C'mon Usagi, cheer up. Everything's gonna be okay."

"Easy for you to say, Motoki," Usagi grumbled, her arms circling around herself; her chin resting in the crook of her arm. "You have a girlfriend to celebrate Valentine's Day with, just like everyone else. Me, I think I'm just going to hide out in my room until the fifteenth when everyone goes back to being normal."

"Wow, he really did a number on you, didn't he," Motoki murmured more so to himself than her, frowning. He knew why she was like this, his best friend, Mamoru had yet to recognize her feelings for him. The feelings that had obviously been there for years. And no matter how many times they crossed paths, he'd obviously never picked up on the signs that Usagi was utterly infatuated with him, so infatuated that it was painful to watch. "I'm sorry Usagi. But hey, don't let one jerk keep you from being happy. Or enjoying a pointless holiday like Valentine's Day. If it helps, I'll be your Valentine."

Usagi couldn't help the smile that crossed her lips at his offer. While it was a sweet gesture, she couldn't ask him to do that. It wouldn't be the same anyway. "That's sweet of you, Motoki, but I wouldn't do that to Reika. You're already her Valentine. Don't worry about me, I'll manage. It's just one day after all."

She flashed him a smile, one that didn't quite reach her eyes before she latched onto the straw of her milkshake. Motoki watched her, deep in thought as she drank down her milkshake finally. He'd come to care about Usagi as a younger sister over the many years he'd known her. And he hated to see her in distress the way that she was.

The blond had been hopelessly in love with his raven-haired best friend since he could remember. But Mamoru, ever dense and socially awkward Mamoru, never seemed to notice the subtle hints she'd throw at him. Instead, he'd tease her relentlessly about her hair, just to get a rise out of Usagi. And it worked every time.

"Thanks for the milkshake, Motoki!" Usagi chimed happily, breaking him from his revere. She waved to him as she turned to leave. "I'll see you later, alright? Tell Reika that I said hi when you see her!"

Motoki nodded mutely, watching as she left the arcade. Usagi was a nice girl, and she deserved nothing but happiness. And he was going to make sure that she got it, one way or another. Operation Cupid's Arrow was now in effect. He was going to get Mamoru to notice Usagi, even if he had to beat him upside the head to do so.

…

Mamoru arrived at the arcade an hour and a half after Usagi had left, intent on stopping in to grab a cup of coffee before heading off to attend his evening classes. Besides, he needed to talk to his blond friend. He was in a bit of a predicament, one he didn't know how to get himself out of.

He'd run into Usagi at the supermarket a few minutes ago. She hadn't been herself, staring quite ominously at the assortment of Valentine's Day chocolates that had been on display on the end cap. He'd never seen her glowering at anything like that other than himself.

Gone was the normally bubbly blond that he enjoyed trading verbal jabs with on a daily basis to be replaced by a quite scary, if he did say so himself, young woman who looked like she could rip out your throat if you said the wrong thing to her at any time. And he was concerned. She hadn't even acknowledged him when he called out to her. She always reacted when he called her Odango Atama.

He knew how close the blond was to Motoki, he treated her almost as if she were a younger sister. So, he figured he'd try talking to the arcade worker to find out if he knew what had the darling little odango in such a bad mood.

He slid into his normal stool, catching the attention of his friend when he heard the chair move. Motoki offered a smile, gesturing for him to give him a moment before turning back to the customer he'd been tending to before Mamoru had sat down. He finished with them quickly before moving to grab a mug and the coffee pot.

"Afternoon, Mamoru," Motoki greeted with a smile. Operation Cupid's Arrow would be easy enough to execute. Especially since he didn't have to go hunt the raven hair down. He frowned, however, when he noticed the pensive look on his friend's face. "You only make that face when you're studying or if something is on your mind. You're obviously not studying, so, penny for your thoughts?"

Mamoru should have known Motoki would notice something was on his mind. He'd known the other male practically his entire life. They'd attended the same schools since they were in elementary school. Motoki had been the only one he'd really opened up to about his past when they were older. The blond male had been sympathetic, treating him as more of a brother than his friend. And the Furuhata family had welcomed him into their lives with open arms, teaching him what it meant to be a family.

"It's Usagi," Mamoru said, startling the other male.

One, he'd never heard him call her by her given name. He'd always called her Odango Atama to get under her skin. And it worked every time. Two, what about Usagi could have gotten him to thinking the way that he was? "What about her? Is she hurt? What'd you do now Mamoru?"

"Why do you automatically assume that I did something to her, Motoki," Mamoru demanded, offended.

Sure, he teased her often, but he'd never do anything to harm her in any way.

"Well, you are constantly teasing her," Motoki pointed out. He grinned, this was his opening to tell the dense idiot how Usagi felt since he obviously hadn't noticed, and the blond wouldn't tell him herself. "And she does get slightly offended by it even though she plays it off. Not to mention she's absolutely in love with you and has been for a while, but you didn't hear that from me."

"I didn't do anything to her Motoki, she just looked really pissed off when I saw her in the supermarket, glaring at Valentine's Day chocolates and cursing about insufferable jerks that don't pay attention to anything and excuse me what," Mamoru asked when he finally caught on to what his best friend had said. "Usagi is what?"

Got him, Motoki thought to himself as he shrugged. "I didn't stutter Mamoru, you definitely heard what I said. Usagi is, and has been for a few years, in love with you. But you never noticed. And probably wouldn't have ever noticed unless someone spelled it out for you like I did."

Mamoru was floored. The pretty little blond that he enjoyed teasing and secretly loved himself, loved him and had for years. And then it hit him, why she'd been glaring at the Valentine's Day candy the way she had. He hadn't even given her feelings the slightest bit of acknowledgement, even though they were obviously there for him to see. He turned to his friend, a pleading look on his face. "Motoki, I need your help."

Now it was Motoki's turn to be stunned. He hadn't been expecting that, "Okay, what do you need help with?"

"Help me figure out how to win Usagi over and what to get her for Valentine's Day," Mamoru pleaded quietly.

Well, that was easier than I thought that it would be, Motoki thought to himself before he grinned. "Alright, Mamoru. I'll help you."

Coming Up Next: Chapter Two — Mamoru's Plight