Title: Just in Case
Author/Artist: Jenbunny
Medium: Fanfic
Theme: Superstition
Genre: General
Version: Anime/Manga
Rating: G
(Disclaimer - I obviously don't own Sailor Moon or any of the characters. I'm just borrowing them for awhile.)
Mamoru walked down the sidewalk, Usagi bouncing along at his side, her arm linked securely with his. It was a pleasant enough day, warm breezes and blue skies. The kind of day that made you feel as if nothing could go wrong.
They had no particular destination in mind, the plan had been to just enjoy each other's company. The two of them never needed to actually go anywhere to enjoy themselves, or even talk really. Just spending time with Usagi was a pleasure and Mamoru intended to enjoy the day to its fullest.
As they walked however, Mamoru started to notice an odd trend. Whenever they came upon an object in their path instead of allowing the object to come between them, Usagi would make certain that they both walked to one side of it, whether it was a person, an animal, or a post, or even just a piece of litter laying on the ground. She would do this even if she had to force them both to step into the street to be able to go around it.
After she had done it for what seemed like the millionth time, Mamoru pulled them both to a stop and gave her a questioning look. "Usako, why are you refusing to allow even a piece of trash to come between us? It's getting to be a little silly. The people, the dog, even the telephone pole back there was one thing, but that piece of crumbled up paper . . . couldn't we have just kept going over it? Why did we need to go around it? I wouldn't even have had to let go of your arm to do that. It was only a piece of paper on the ground . . . "
Usagi looked up at Mamoru and said, "Yesterday, the girls and I were talking about love and Minako said that someone had told her that when walking with your lover, let nothing like posts, people, or even fire hydrants come between you and you will keep the love strong."
She nibbled nervously on her bottom lip a moment before saying, "I want to keep our love strong Mamo-chan. I don't want anything to come between us, not even a piece of trash. I can't take the chance that it would break up our future together . . ."
Mamoru stared at the blonde for a long moment, fighting hard not to start laughing. Usagi wouldn't appreciate it very much if he started laughing at her, even if that was the most ridiculous thing he had heard in a long time. Finally he managed to stifle the urge to laugh, reaching out to tip her chin up to him so that he could look into her eyes. "Usako, that's only a superstition. It isn't something that you should be worried about. Superstitions are just credulous beliefs not based on reason or knowledge. Do you really think our love is so fragile that walking over a piece of trash is going to damage it? I love you and nothing is going to change that. I promise."
Usagi listened quietly to Mamoru, just staring up at him as he spoke. Finally though she gave him a bright smile and hugged him tightly. "Ami said pretty much that same thing yesterday, that it was just a silly superstition and that we shouldn't believe in them. It wasn't really that I believed it, I mean I know you love me and nothing will change that. I was just thinking that there was no sense in taking chances, but you're right Mamo-chan. It was pretty silly."
Mamoru held Usagi close for a moment before turning to resume their walk once more. Her words wouldn't leave him though. He didn't really believe in superstitions. As far as he was concerned most of them were irrational and best forgotten, but what if Usagi was right. Why take chances? Without even realizing it, Mamoru led them around the next obstacle in their path instead of allowing it to come between them.