AN: Hello, dear readers! And welcome to my first ever multi-chapter fic! This one will be short, and it's already more than half written, so it'll be completed within the next couple of weeks!
I had a ridiculous meltdown yesterday over whether I should keep writing or not, but thankfully floraone, my own personal Jiminy Cricket, convinced me to keep going. And out popped this little jewel! Hope you enjoy 3
And as always, I maybe, possibly, almost certainly, don't own Sailor Moon.
It had been nearly a year since the defeat of Chaos, and life was slowly beginning to return to normal for Chiba Mamoru and the five Inner Sailor Senshi. Well, as normal as life could be for reincarnated royalty with supernatural powers strong enough to destroy worlds, but that was neither here nor there.
After Mamoru had returned from his lengthy, and very unwanted, stay in the underworld, he had made the decision to remain in Tokyo instead of returning to Harvard, as he'd originally planned, for medical school. Dying unexpectedly and causing his, now fiancé, Usagi, unimaginable and unnecessary pain had become a nasty habit of his, and tempting fate had no appeal to him. Usagi was far more important that any prestige he would have gained at Harvard, and though she had tried to protest, he refused to budge. Mamoru had no problem with living up to his recently bestowed nickname, "stubborn ass." He wore it like a badge of honor.
This newfound peace had been an adjustment for all of them. After a tumultuous three years, it felt strange to not be constantly traipsing around Tokyo, fighting evil in less than ideal combat outfits. (Who had designed those things, anyway?!) What, exactly, were they supposed to do now?
Life moved on, and so they had moved on with it. Usagi, Ami, Makoto and Minako had all continued their education at Juuban Municipal High School, while Rei was finishing up her tenure at the TA Academy for Girls. He had applied for and been accepted with ease into Keio University, and was now deep into his first year of medical school.
It had amazed them all how busy they were with the normal hustle and bustle of life. Their time together had begun to wane, as they each pursued long-suppressed dreams and interests. And even though their bond was unshakable, they found that a concerted effort had to be made in order to see each other on a consistent basis. They no longer had the built in excuse of enemies to discuss. Of course, no one ever needed an excuse for a milkshake.
Mamoru made every attempt to see Usagi on a daily basis, and no matter how much time they had or hadn't spent together, they always had their special Thursdays. Mamoru LOVED Thursdays. This was the day when, no matter what the stress of the week had brought or what they had going on, she would stay over and they would become, shall we say, intimately, reaquainted with one another. Usagi had argued that these nights should be called, "Sexy Time", but Mamoru had insisted they simply be known as "Thursday." Aside from their far too infrequent nights together, he couldn't remember the last time he'd had real, uninterrupted, quality time with Usagi.
This was not to say that Mamoru didn't consider any time he had with Usagi to be quality. Of course it was! She was sunshine and rainbows and getting licked by a whole bunch of puppies wrapped up in an adorably short package. It was impossible to not be happy in her presence. But he desperately needed time with her where they could just be themselves and have, what was it called? Oh, yes. Fun. No outside pressure of dates, friends and family, or social engagements. So, against his better judgement, Mamoru had to rely on the best reinforcements he had, The Girls.
Usagi's 18th birthday was fast approaching, and Mamoru wanted to make the occasion a special one. Of course, there was the giant party planned for her, complete with cake, games, obnoxious J Pop music blaring and all the meat buns a girl could want.
Thankfully, the only veto Mamoru had had to use thus far in the planning stages was Minako's insistence that they hire a male stripper for the party. He could vividly remember spewing the sip of coffee he'd just taken when Mina had declared, "But Ami said we had to keep on the balls, Mamoru! What else could that possibly mean?!"
And while Mamoru was very excited to experience this party with Usagi, and stand by her side for the "biggest" day of her life thus far, he also wanted to plan something for just the two of them. An escape from the pressures of school and a future that was fast approaching.
His first idea had been an elegant dinner out at Ise Sueyoshi, one of Tokyo's finest restaurants. Wining and dining his princess had never done him wrong before. But when Minako got wind of this, she had shown up at his apartment without warning, a giant binder in her hands that had numerous tabs and post-it notes sticking out. It was entitled simply, "Men are Idiots." with a photo of him on gracing the front cover. Opening his mouth to question when and why he had become the poster child for stupid men everywhere, Minako quickly stopped him.
"Have no fear, my dear Mamoru. I have come to rescue you from your own stupidity."
"Minako, as much as I adore having you here, at my apartment, unannounced, in the middle of the week, this really isn't a good…"
"Nonsense, Mamoru, this is the best time! I was free, and if I'm free from such a grueling schedule, obviously you'd have time as well."
"Minako…" he said threateningly, "Say what you need to say, and then be on your way. I've got at least another four hours of studying to do."
During their brief exchange, Minako had barged her way past Mamoru, gone into his kitchen, helped herself to a bag of chips, and was currently lounging on his couch as if she had every right to be there.
Completely unphased by Mamoru's insistence that she leave, the bubbly blonde continued, "Well, you see, the girls and I were talking and this dinner plan of yours for Usagi's birthday simply won't do."
"And dare I ask, 'why'?"
"Because it's far too cliched. That's a French word that means it's boring. I know this because I lived in England."
"Ah, yes. French speaking England."
"Anyway, we, the girls and I that is, have come up with a fabulous plan for you!"
"Minako, I don't need you to plan Usako's birthday for me. I'm her fiancé. That's a french word meaning engaged to be married. I know this because I'm not an idiot."
"I have an entire binder full of evidence that suggests otherwise…" Minako countered, pointing to his face on the front of the aforementioned binder.
"What the hell is even in that thing?"
"I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you, which I just can't do, because then Usagi would kill me, and that's a travesty this world doesn't need."
Mamoru quickly realized that he wasn't going to get the Senshi of Love out of his apartment until he at least pretended to hear her out. "Alright, Minako, what exactly did you have in mind?"
"You might want to sit down for this, Mamoru-san. It's going to blow you away."
"I think I'll manage to find the strength to remain standing. Out with it."
"Geez, you'd think they'd at least teach you some manners in medical school! Not a spank of decency..." At his icy glare and roll of the eyes at her misstep with yet another idiom, and she decided not to press the issue any further. "Well, we were thinking, you two adorable sweethearts could have a...slumber party!"
"...a slumber party? That's your big idea?"
"Yes, of course! But not like your usual Thursday night slumber parties."
He blushed redder than Rei's fire on the coldest night of December. How was it exactly that she knew about that?
"It's so cute that you think Usagi doesn't tell us everything. Is that weird sore you had healing up? No? You might want to see a medical professional about that, Mamoru. These things shouldn't be ignored…"
"Minako. You have fifteen seconds to explain this master plan you've cooked up, or I'll remove you from my apartment."
She turned somewhat serious after this, her face falling into a look of determination. "Mamoru, you and I both know that Usagi would love anything you planned for her. She only wants to spend time with you. I also know that your quality time together has been lacking as of late, and that you're both probably desperate for a chance to really connect with each other. You've both been through so much over the past few years, and the girls and I just want to give you a chance to have that quality time."
When he didn't protest, she continued, "We came up with the plan of a slumber party for the two of you. But not just a run of the mill girlfriend sleeping over at her boyfriend's place slumber party. You and Usagi are going to have a girl's night."
"A what night?"
"Mamoru, I'm really going to need you to keep up here. I'm a busy woman, and I don't have the time to keep repeating myself. A girl's night."
"And, why, pray tell, is this something either one of us would want?"
"Because in doing the typical girly slumber party activities, nail painting, facials, topless pillow fights, you'll both let your guards down, allowing you to strengthen that weird bond thing you have."
"Topless WHAT?!"
"THAT you pay attention to? Just kidding of course, Mamoru. Although, you'd better believe I'm telling Usagi-chan her fiancé is a hentai."
Shooting her another glare that could cause a volcano to freeze, Mamoru took a moment to consider what Minako had to say. It had been so long since he and Usagi had had that kind of time together. If he was completely honest with himself, Mamoru ached for the chance to connect with the love of his life. He didn't relish the thought of some of the activities a girl's night would require, but he knew without a doubt it would cause Usagi to be in an almost constant state of giggles. Mamoru adored making her laugh. It was the most precious sound…
After much pursing of lips, and grumbling what Minako could have sworn was a, "how the hell do I get myself into these messes?" he spoke.
"I don't know, Minako. It might, and I do mean might, work, but I don't know the first thing about planning a girls night." Seeing as he had one too many...appendages.
Minako beamed at him. "Oh, you silly man! Don't you worry about a thing! We'll take care of all the juicy details. You don't think we'd leave you to your own devices when it comes to, well, anything, do you?"
"I'm going to choose to ignore that comment."
Minako rose and practically skipped to the door. "I'll be in touch soon, Mamoru! We'll knock this out of the parking garage."
"So, close Minako. So, so close."
As Mamoru watched her retreating form down the hallway, he couldn't help the smile that crept onto his features.
AN: To be continued! I LIVE for reviews and feedback, so please tell me what you think! Next chapter should be out by the end of the week!