Well, this is a story I wrote for my own site about 2 years ago. I'm fond of it, although it's not quite as good as my more recent literary efforts. In any case, I hope you enjoy it!
Disclaimer: Sailor Moon never was, is not, and never will be mine. I'm just borrowing her.
"Oh, Usagi! You look gorgeous!" Her small audience clapped as Usagi twirled in front of the mirror. Her gown, a deep rose halter-top shot with silver, whirled up around her legs. She had taken her silvery-blond hair down from its customary odangos, and it flew out around her like a shimmering cloak.
Usagi turned to face the nine young women watching her. "Thanks so much for helping me tonight, guys. I think . . . I think tonight's gonna be special.."
Mina's eyes twinkled. "Think he's going to pop the question?"
"I think so. I hope so . . . oh, I don't know! We've been together for eight years now." Usagi's eyes turned dreamy as she thought about the wonderful times she'd spent with her Mamuchan.
"Well," Lita threw her arm around Usagi's waist, "that only leaves one problem! Which one of us gets to be Maid of Honor?"
"Thanks, Lita. I think I'll explode if he doesn't ask me soon."
"Now, Usa-chan, you can't cry. You'll mess up those cosmetics that I worked so hard on!"
The doorbell of her apartment interrupted Usagi's retort.
"Usako?" How she loved that voice. It was so deep, so warm. She couldn't hear it enough.
"Go on, girl! Don't keep him waiting!" Lita gave her an excited shove toward the door.
Usagi took a deep breath, smoothed the front of her gown, and opened the door. Mamoru stared at her from behind a dozen white roses.
She is the most beautiful woman in the universe was all Mamoru could think. His Usako had grown up in the past six years. Her sweet facial features had matured, as had the rest of her body; high, pointed breasts curved into a waist he could span with his hands, and her long slender legs were the envy of every woman he knew. Along with the physical changes, Usagi had begun to abandon her childish behaviors. She had surprised everyone, including herself, by receiving a scholarship to Tokyo University, where she was majoring in International Relations, of all things. Setsuna had remarked occasionally that Usagi was beginning to act more and more like NeoQueen Serenity. Mamoru himself had finished medical school and was making a name for himself in his chosen field. And after tonight . . . they'd be together . . .
"Mamuchan? Is something wrong?" Usagi's nervous voice broke through his reverie. He realized that he'd stood there, staring at her, for several minutes.
"Of course not, odangos-at- wait, where are your odangos?"
Usagi blushed. "I wanted to look more grown-up tonight."
"You look beautiful." He handed her the roses. "Are you ready to go?"
"Thank you, Mamuchan. I'll just put these up." She walked into the kitchen for a vase, only to find her friends all hiding behind the door. Rei, Chibi-Usa, and Lita all gave her thumbs up; the others just grinned. She grinned back, handed the roses to Amy, and hurried back out into the living room.
Once the front door closed, Rei turned to Mirichu. "All right, Miri-chan. You've been smirking like the Cheshire Cat all evening. Do you know something we don't?"
"Well . . ."
"What?!"
"Miri . . ."
"Tell us!"
"Keeping secrets from us, love?" Haruka grinned down at the teal-haired beauty. The others looked as though they'd jump her if she didn't spill her news.
"I'm not supposed to tell, but Mamushan, looking very embarrassed and full of himself, asked me today if I thought his Usako would prefer moonlight or candlelight, and he showed me a very lovely little ring . . ."
* * *
"The Sanguine Moon is approaching. Energy must be gathered." Four figures crouched in a dark room somewhere over Tokyo. The initial speaker had a low, rough voice, and he hid his features beneath a green cape.
"The Master is coming."
"The Master needs a body."
The fourth figure waved a clawed hand over a clouded crystal orb. It cleared, revealing an image of a young woman with flowing silver-blond hair. "This one possesses the power of the cosmos. Through her, our Master will enter this dimension. Until that time, no woman is safe from us. Now go. Viper," the first speaker straightened, "send one of your constructs to plant the Master's venom. Asp," the second speaker crawled forward, "See about her companions. If one or more can be taken, they would be a valuable asset." As Viper and Asp disappeared, the speaker turned back to his contemplation of the young woman. "She is exactly what I seek."
* * *
Usagi cuddled next to Mamoru as their carriage slowly wound its way through the city streets. Dinner had been perfect. She had almost expected him to ask her during dessert, but maybe he'd thought moonlight would be more romantic . . . The carriage driver had initially begun his spiel, but gave up when he saw how enraptured his two passengers were with each other. Usagi tilted her head up to gaze into Mamoru's deep blue eyes. "I love you, Mamuchan."
"I love you, too." Mamoru was becoming more and more nervous. Should he really ask her? He loved and wanted her more then life itself, but . . . she wasn't even out of college yet. The little box was burning a hole in his pocket. "Usako, we've known each other for eight years, not including our past lives. I've had a lot of trouble with destiny's pushing us together. I would have rathered that we came to love each other naturally, but . . ." Her face was so lovely, kissed by the soft moonlight. Now was the perfect time. "Usagi Tsukino, would . . . "
"Yes?"
"Usako, would you . . . could you . . ." he reached into his pocket, and-
And nearby, someone screamed in terror.
Usagi and Mamoru turned as one. It had been years since their last battle, but the instincts of the two warriors had not diminished in the slightest.
"It's coming from over there!"
"Let's go!" The poor carriage driver stared in amazement as his passengers sprang from the moving vehicle. A fleeting thought caught Mamoru's mind; he was glad he had thought to pay for everything beforehand. "Transform, Usako!"
"Right! Moon Eternal Makeup!" As his beloved was caught up in the swirling lights of her transformation, Mamoru closed his eyes and called upon his power. He donned his mask and pulled a rose from his cape just as Sailor Moon touched the earth. Together, they ran toward the source of trouble. So much for his carefully planned romantic evening.
Near the center of the park, a woman lay upon the ground. Over her, a youma crouched, his eyes glowing with an unnatural yellow light. When he saw Sailor Moon, he dropped his prey and pounced toward her.
"Sailor Moon, look out!"
"Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss!" Moon's staff appeared in her hand; she aimed it toward the approaching beast. The blast caught him head on. However, his momentum kept him speeding at her. Before she could dive out of his way, he had sunk his teeth into her shoulder. Sailor Moon screamed in pain as his weight threw her to the ground. His head lifted; the light was fading rapidly from his eyes. His mouth opened. "You . . . cannot win. The Sanguine Moon is . . . approaching, and you will . . . join us soon, . . . princess." The youma's body went limp, and dark cloud washed from his fangs, sinking into the wound on her neck.
"Usako!" Tuxedo Kamen pulled the creature off Sailor Moon. "Did he- oh, no!" He picked her up and started running. "Just hold on! I'm taking you home!" If he said anything else, Sailor Moon didn't hear him as she sank into darkness.
* * *
Hotaru looked up from her anatomy book as Setsuna placed a tea cup at her elbow. "Thank you. That smells wonderful."
Setsuna leaned up against her ward's desk. "Take a break. You've been studying so hard." Hotaru had followed in Ami and Mamoru's footsteps and was studying medicine. It only made sense, given her healing powers.
"I want to make you and the others proud of me-" Hotaru broke off as her vision clouded and a strange hissing filled her ears. For a moment, a horrifying image of a poisonous snake flashed through her mind, and her brain felt as though it had been turned inside out. But before she could even cry out, it was gone! In shock, Hotaru turned to look at Setsuna. The older woman pressed a palm to her forehead, and her cheeks were ashy. "Setsuna, did you-"
The phone rang. A second later, Mirichu dashed into the room. "Hotaru! Usagi's in trouble!"
* * *
"No!" Usagi screamed herself into awareness. "Wha . . . Mamuchan?" Yes, he was there, smiling in worried relief. And Hotaru, her eyes still glowing with her healing powers. "The youma! Did he . . ." There was something she needed to remember, something he'd said. And her dream . . . but the images, which had been so vivid a moment before, were fading rapidly, leaving her with a feeling of loss.
"He's dead, Usagi." Hotaru wiped the blood from her hand with a rag. Blood! Usagi's hand flew to her neck. The bite had disappeared. "But that was really close."
"Thank you, Hotaru."
"Mamushan! Let us in! We want to see her!" Mina peeked her head through the door. "Usagi, are you alright?" Before Mamoru could move to block the door, all of the senshi filed into Usagi's bedroom, their faces filled with identical expressions of relief. Chibi-Usa threw her arms around her future mother and started crying.
"Chibi! Guys, I'm okay, really." She looked at Hotaru. "Aren't I?"
"You should be. But," Hotaru glared in mock-sternness at the others, "she needs her rest. Now say goodnight and get out of here!" It required several hugs and kisses to push Usagi's friends from the room. "Good night, Usagi." Hotaru gripped Mamoru's arm and said quietly, "I need to talk to you once she's asleep." Mamoru nodded, and she left the room.
"Mamuchan?" He turned and sat on the side of her bed, stroking her hand silently. "I'm sorry tonight had to end like this, I really am. It was so beautiful." A faint smile grew on his face. "Was that woman okay?" When Mamoru nodded, she continued. She just had to know. "Before the attack . . . what did you want to ask me?"
Mamoru thought about the little box in his pocket. "It can wait, my Usako. You need to sleep." He ignored the trace of hurt in her eyes and softly kissed her lips. "Good night, love."
"Night." She settled into her bed as he tucked the covers around her and walked out.
Mamoru closed the door behind him and drew the jewelry box from his coat. Diamonds sparkled against platinum as he stared at the little ring. Usako had such tiny fingers.
"Mamushan- oh!" Hotaru halted. "Can . . . can I see it? We all thought you'd ask her tonight. I'm sorry."
He shook his head, not wanting to discuss it, and returned the box to its hiding place. He'd waited so long, but he could wait a little longer. "What did you need to tell me?"
Hotaru glanced at the closed door. "I've never seen a wound like that before. It wasn't just a simple gash; it was filled with a strange darkness that I've never encountered, and I'm not sure I healed it all. Keep an eye on her, okay? I need to know if she starts acting strangely."
He nodded. "I'm staying here tonight. We need to hold a meeting tomorrow. I don't think this was an isolated incident."
"A new enemy? But Setsuna said-"
I know, but the time stream is not a single line, remember? It could have altered."
"I'll talk to Setsuna when I get home. Until tomorrow?" The slender girl bowed and turned, then stopped. "Mamoru, did you have any strange visions this evening?" At his puzzled negative, she shrugged it off and left the apartment, leaving Mamoru alone to worry over her words.
* * *