Disclaimer: I don't own anything. All rights to respective owners.
A/N: Welcome back my friends! The next chapter and what's going to happen now! I'm sorry for the wait but nothing was flowing for me word-wise but look, i got it out! Plus I had a few more stories going (CHECK OUT "THE THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVER AND FOE" co-written with CassieRaven to read another M-rated fic, it's GOOD) This chapter is more sappy then sexy sorry to say but I like the little moments and plus next chapter will definitely be M TRUST ME! Well let's cut the long A/N and just get to the story because I've left you in suspense long enough!
Chapter 11
"I am the pretty guardian that fights for love and justice! I am Sailor Moon! And in the name of the Moon, I'll punish you!"
The 'guardian' rolled onto the wooden floor, dodging an 'attack' from the 'monster'. "Sailor Moon look out!"
Taking 'Tuxedo Mask's' advice, she quickly ducked down for cover and sure enough an 'attack' came flying past her. "Thank you Tuxedo Mask!"
'Sailor Moon' then turned around, her Moon Stick clenched in her hand. "How dare you ruin these innocent children's day! It's unforgivable! Moon Healing Escalation!"
With a direct hit, the 'monster' toppled over, landing on the floor motionless. "Beautiful job Sailor Moon! I knew you could do it, you just had to look inside of yourself…"
Suddenly the door to the room opened, revealing an older woman with a dark bun and white lab coat. Looking up from her clipboard, she nearly did a double take when she set her eyes on the two occupants in the room, "What is going on here?"
Usagi turned beet red under her mask and fumbled, "Uhhhhh….we're just playing dress up?"
"I am Sailor Moon and this is Tuxedo Mask! We are here to protect the people of Earth from evillll!"
Usagi facepalmed into her hand, "Emi-chan…"
But the blonde was startled to hear laughing instead of a deserved lecture. "Hisa-san?"
The brunette doctor calmed down from her laughing fit as she took in the two masked crusaders in the hospital room. "You two are certainly having fun, huh?"
"Yea we are! Usagi-chan said I could be Sailor Moon and that she could be my partner in crime, Tuxedo Mask!"
At the child's statement, Hisa looked to the volunteer who was wearing a small black towel wrapped around her shoulders, a red ribbon tied around her neck, and a huge white mask covering her face. Even with the mask, she could still see the redness that was building on the teen's face.
Nervous laughter began to come out of the 'vigilante', "Haha, well Hisa-san you see-"
"Don't worry about it Tsukino-san, I think it's very cute that you two are playing dress up," the woman turned to the mini-guardian, "However, I have to cut it short because it's time for your check-up Emi-chan."
With a frown and whimper, the little girl settled back into her white bed, dropping her Moon Stick (a tissue box) on the bedside table as Dr. Hisa began taking her temperature, pulse, and breathing. "So, how's the birthday girl doing today?"
Usagi's eyes widened and she almost went into complete shock, nearly spasming, "Emi-chan! It's your birthday! Why didn't you mention this! Partners in crime should not and will not keep secrets from one another!"
The small child giggled as her doctor felt her pulse, "Don't worry Usagi-chan, my birthday is tomorrow. I didn't tell you because I knew that you wouldn't be here for it so I figured-"
"I'll come and visit so we can hang out! I will not leave you alone on your birthday!"
The girl chuckled harder at her volunteer's animated gestures, "My mom is taking me out all-day, we always do this special thing every year, don't worry."
"So I guess I have to say 'Happy Early Birthday' then huh?" A pout jutted onto Usagi's lip until a bright look replaced it, eyes shining. "I got it! Let me get you a present my comrade! What do you wish for! Anything and I promise I'll make it happen!"
And the blonde swore, the look on the little girl's face made everything in the world look bright and colorful again, "Anything?!"
Usagi gave a huge grin, "Anything."
With shining eyes, Emi snatched up the papers by her swinging table, pulling one sheet out that had numerous marking and drawings all over it, "This my birthday sheet! Whenever your birthday comes up, you get one to fill out. This is what I want!"
Usagi's eyes followed her small finger to come upon what was number one under the bolded words "What I want for my birthday is….". Her heart tightened and the spring of tears to her eyes began almost immediately. She looked up glassy eyed to the giddy girl, a proud grin pulling at her mouth, "What you want most for your birthday is to meet Sailor Moon?"
Frantic nodding answered her question, "Yes! She's the coolest most prettiest girl ever, so of course I want to meet her! I want to tell her how much she means to me and how I want to be brave like her."
Suddenly Usagi felt her heart squeeze. 'I'm not brave. I'm a coward and clumsy.' "Emi-chan, Sailor Moon-"
"I see how she protects and saves everyone. She falls and messes up sometimes but she always comes back up, ready to help someone! I want to be like that!"
She meant that much to this little girl, she really made a difference? "You will Emi-chan."
A wistful smile presented itself on the girl's face, "I hope. I just want to tell her how important she is, how people are rooting for her you know."
'I do know now and I appreciate it Emi,' the fifteen-year-old answered back mentally. "I promise Emi, I'll make your wish come true! It'll be the best birthday present!"
Eyes lighting up at Usagi's words, Emi lunged forward, engulfing the blonde volunteer in a big hug, "You can really get the Sailor Moon to meet me! Really Usagi-chan?!"
"Totally! You know one time she saved me from an attack and told me that if I ever needed anything, I could call her!"
"YOU HAVE SAILOR MOON'S PHONE NUMBER!?"
She laughed at Emi's wide eyes. "Yup! And I can totally get her to come and say hi to you Emi!" Just before the frail girl could tackle the blonde, Doctor Hisa stepped in.
"Usagi-san, could I speak with you?" Usagi looked up to see the brunette's slightly intense and pleading eyes and suddenly she found herself feeling as if she was being asked to talk to the principal.
"Umm, sure." Sending a quick reassurance to the radiating Emi, Usagi followed Hisa out of the room and into the lit hallway, the doctor closing the room door. "What is it Hisa-san?"
"Uh, Usagi-san I know you have grown very fond of Emi and she has to you-"
"Oh yea, she's an amazing little girl!"
"Yes, I know but-," the elder woman sighed as a look of seriousness clouded her face, making Usagi nervous, "But I can't have you making promises to her like that, getting her hopes up."
Confusion laced the fifteen-year-old's face then. "Excuse me? Getting her hopes up?"
A dark eyebrow shot upward, "Promising to get a superhero to meet her? No offense to you Usagi-san, but I find it highly unlikely that you personally know a person like that."
A shot of hurt and anger hit her but even Usagi knew that she was probably speaking the truth. Heck, it was the reason why her identity was still a secret, who would look to a fifteen-year-old blonde that trips every four steps she takes and is always late to school in the morning as a worldwide known superhero. "I understand Dr. Hisa."
"Poor Emi has been asking to meet her 'hero' for years but unfortunately even the people we hire to dress up as Sailor Moon can't fool her. She knows the real deal." A sad look then flashed past the woman's eyes. "Every year she's so disappointed and just cries because she'll never get to meet her idol so please I'm begging you, don't make promises that will leave her heartbroken."
Usagi nodded, agreeing and promising to no longer get the girl's hopes up, even though she knew that she'll be able to make good on her promise. Oh she will make good on her promise times ten thousand and with an almost sinister look, Usagi began to plot away in her head, ignoring the tall dark-haired form heading in her direction.
And in they both crashed into each other.
"I'm so sorry sir-"
"It's okay." Usagi felt them catch her wrist gently, keeping her upright. The warmth and body in front of her felt eerily familiar, and even if she begged her eyes to not look up, they did anyway, coming into direct contact with the most beautiful blue color she had ever since in her life.
"Usagi I-" Mamoru felt his breath catch as he knew the speech and words he prepared earlier in the bathroom mirror, in preparation of actually bumping into her, were suddenly erased from his mind.
She kept her face serious and lightly pulled her arm from his grip. All morning, she had avoided him, barely even looked at him when he came into the playroom since she immediately left right after. Somehow, both knew that the other was just as confused as they were. What did yesterday mean? How was she/he reacting? Had they liked it? Were they repulsed?
"Uh, how are you?"
"Good. You?"
She shifted her weight. "Good."
"Umm, you-" His hand gestured to her outfit, making the blonde look down and realize with a horrible blush that she was still sporting a small black towel and a white cut-out mask with a red ribbon tied on her neck. Usagi promptly ripped them off quickly and twisted them in her sweating hands.
A thousand questions lingered in the air but neither teens dared to ask them in fear of the ugly answers that would follow. So both stood there awkwardly, one was staring and the other was keeping her eyes downcast to the floor or his shoes.
Finally, Mamoru sighed and swallowed, "About yesterday, I-I'm sorry over what happened. It was totally uncalled for and….I don't know. I'm so sorry, I don't want one dumb moment- a mistake to ruin your project."
Usagi didn't know why but she felt her heart tighten and fall at his apology, kissing her was a mistake and dumb apparently. She could feel the same about the whole incident but she couldn't say that it had felt like a mistake, it had felt right, shockingly. But he obviously didn't feel the same so why should she?
Squaring her slumped shoulders, she raised her head to meet his eyes straight on, "You're right and it's okay. It was my fault too, we should just put it past us. I've already forgotten about it."
A flash of hurt appeared in his eyes for some reason, but it was replaced with a look of relief, "Right, already forgotten. I'm sorry again, including getting your uniform stained."
A small laugh escaped his lips and she allowed herself to snort as well. Her uniform was stained and currently balled up, buried in the back of her closet. The teen feared that one day her mom will find the thing and take a spatula to her head. "It's fine, really. I'm sure I did the same to yours."
"There's always dry cleaning," he joked but it was half-hearted.
A second or two passed and Usagi chose then to break the sudden awkward silence, "Well, I have to get going. Dr. Hisa wants me to go check in on another floor."
"Oh yea of course," he assured, moving to the side.
Usagi saw her chance and took it, swiftly walking past him until-
"Wait," his hand gently grasped hers, stopping Usagi, "Will I see you on Monday?"
She felt the well of tears in her eyes and was grateful for having her back turned toward him. His hand was warm and sent tingles up her whole arm, making her heart flutter and pump and her hand to squeeze the towel material tighter. She wanted to see him, she wanted to spend time with him, study with him, do more with him then just study actually but…
"I don't know," she answered, keeping her voice emotionless. "Let's just meet at the arcade on Monday."
"O-okay great," he replied, and she could almost see that look of relief and disappointment in her mind's eye. Her hand slipped from his and she rushed down the hospital hallway, thanking the fates that her foot had healed.
She hated him. She hated how he could invade her thoughts and dreams. It wasn't fair how she was looking so far into this one innocent kiss while he was already forgetting the moment. It wasn't fair.
He watched as she flew down the white hallway, her hair streams flowing behind her. Sighing and throwing his eyes down to the floor, Mamoru was thrown back to yesterday, what happened at the studio. Her hair, her laughter, her lips….
It was so perfect, as much as he denied it, it was.
"Minako?"
The blonde bombshell stopped her slurping of the chocolate milkshake, "Yea Usagi-chan?"
"I was just thinking, wondering," she stuttered, "What would you do if you found out that you really liked a guy but you were scared that he didn't like you back?"
"Mhmmm," Minako's face contorted into a thoughtful one, rolling the question in her boy-fluent mind, "Well Usagi-chan, there are factors I need to know. For example, how much do I like him and what's his number?"
Usagi blushed further staring at her lap and stumbled, "Uhh, you like him a lot, everytime you see him your heart speeds up but you feel safe at the same time. And…..10."
"OHHH," Minako's face lit up and her mouth took on a 'O' shape, "You're asking me what I would do when I realized I loved a guy!"
The pig-tailed girl grew panicked, eyes flying to her friend's. "What no! I was asking you what you would do for a guy you really liked!"
"Well what you were talking about sounded a lot like love honey."
Usagi's heart sped up at the word, forcing her eyes to come back to her lap, and her face was on fire. "I was just talking about liking someone a lot, not love Minako."
Blonde eyebrows furrowed but the love senshi bit back her words as the reason behind this conversation began to present itself to her. "Okay, okay, liking someone a lot? Well I, personally, would go after them no matter what."
Again Usagi's eyes shot up to the red-ribboned blonde across the booth. "You would go after them, even if they didn't like you back? Wouldn't you be scared of them rejecting you, saying that they didn't feel one thing for you?"
Minako's eyes turned soft and warm then, the look of worry being reflected in the blues she was gazing at. "I would do it anyway Usagi. Ever heard of 'Better to have loved than lost?'"
A small smile tugged on her lips, "Minako-chan I think that's the first quote you've ever gotten right."
"Well it's important so of course I would remember it," the bubbly blonde laughed. "But it's the truth. Why spend years, decades thinking what if? What would have happened if I just said something to him? Would I be happy now, be married, have a life with him if I just said something all that time ago? And even if the best scenario doesn't happen, that 'what if', will be gone and your heart will be lighter."
Usagi looked past Minako, staring out into nowhere. After her run-in with Mamoru at the hospital, she came to her love-smart twin, desperately seeking a solution to everything. She liked Mamoru, there was no ifs or buts about it, she was sure and had accepted that fact. It was obvious she had no shot with him but what was she supposed to do because her heart was tearing itself apart. Could she confess her lov- no -feelings to him? Would he laugh, joke, be disgusted?
"You would really just tell him?," she asked in a somber voice.
"Yea," Minako replied quickly, "Either that or just make him fall in love with me."
"What?"
The love senshi twirled her red straw in the air mindlessly, "You know like make moves on him, make him crave me, love me blah blah blah obviously that worked well with Tomi..," she rolled her eyes.
A spark lit itself in Usagi's mind again and she saw hope on the horizon. Maybe she could make Mamoru fall for her? Open up to him more possibly, make the high schooler look at her as more than a freshman but a gorgeous genuine girl worth his time. Yes, she will and the opportunity will bestow itself tomorrow.
"Thanks Minako-chan," Usagi cheerfully chirped, gathering her stuff, "You really helped!"
"Glad to know, but one question?"
The leaving blonde glanced at her friend, "Yea?"
"Who are you in love with Usagi?"
The blonde's blue hues widened dramatically and her heart was beating so fast it almost burst out of her damn chest. "W-what are you t-talking about?"
Minako's eyebrow arched and threw a 'really' look at her blushing friend. "You do know what I'm known for, right?"
Usagi's eyes dilated and she couldn't breath, "Uh, I-I have to g-go."
Narrowed eyes followed the pigtails flying out of the arcade doors, letting the love senshi stew in her thoughts of who had her dear friend's big heart. No more than a few seconds passed until an image of a certain black-haired, blue-eyed drop dead gorgeous high school student popped into her mind's eye.
A very devious smile tugged at her glossed lips and Minako's red hair ribbon began to disturbingly resemble devil's horns. 'This will be fun…..'
Contrary to what others might think, sneaking into a hospital isn't all that easy. It especially wasn't easy if you were a well-known superhero among the public and would be recognized-hounded-if you were seen.
So through the window was the moon guardian's only reasonable solution. Well it was the only reasonable solution to her personally.
Sailor Moon stood on a building directly across from the window that was Emi's room. She scratched her head, contemplating on how in the world she was going to end up in the little girl's room. Jumping onto the ledge of the window-still was thrown out, scaling the building was shot down as well…...
"Wait," she whispered to herself. With grace she rarely possessed, Moon quickly jumped her way to the roof of the hospital. After a few mental pep-talks, she finally started to slowly climb down using the narrow window ledges. She jumped down in leaps and with skill, before reaching her desired room window.
To her luck, she found the window still open from earlier. Quietly, she eased it open and gently landed on the floor of the darkened room. It was close to midnight and she needed to be quiet or risk being caught by one of the night nurses.
Through the limited light from the moon, the hero could see the slumbering child in her bed, curled up adorably. A warm smile spread on the blonde's lips as she took time to observe the sweet sight. Emi deserved a happy birthday ('No pun intended') and it was the least that she could do.
Sailor Moon plucked out the letter she had fastened on her back bow, placing it carefully on the bed space next to the frail and small child, the kanji ('A Delievery From the Moon to Emi Sato) written in her neatest handwriting. Another look and smile, she slowly eased away from the bed and stepped toward the open window but of course-
CREAKKK
'PleasebeaheavysleeperPleasebeaheavysleeperPleasebeaheavysleeperPleasebeaheavysleeper, PLEASE BE A HEAVY SLEEPER!'
"Mhhmm…..Who's there?"
'DARN IT!' Shooting a deathly scowl to the offending floorboard, the heroine cringed as she heard the bed sheets and the bed squeak behind her. 'This was not a part of the plan! Sailor Moon was just going to leave a letter personally written and made out to Emi, she can't actually meet me!'
"W-who a-are you?"
Something about the girl's voice made Usagi, under the transformation, frown and almost burst into tears. Emi didn't know who she was idolizing, that all her thoughts and feelings were all false and hopeless. Emi didn't know that she was idolizing a clumsy, idiotic, scaredy cat hero who couldn't even sneak into a room without getting noticed.
Usagi figured that receiving a letter would be enough for her birthday because if Emi were to ever meet or talk to Sailor Moon, all her affection and love would dissolve in nanoseconds, that all her dreams of the moon guardian would be shattered like a mirror.
Sailor Moon was not brave, confident, helpful, or a real hero in real life but Usagi wanted Emi to maintain that fake image of the hero in her dreams because it gave her hope.
"A-are y-you…"
But what if now, that hope and those dreams….
"Sailor Moon?"
….would be crushed.
With a semi-helpful mental pep talk, Usagi finally turned to face the kid, daring to see the absolute shocked and awe-stuck look on her pale face. She watched as the big emerald eyes took in the red boots, the blue skirt, the red ribbon, the gold tiara, and the red hairpieces on her buns with amazement and wonder, commiting each detail to memory.
Plastering a warm smile on her face, Usagi was able to squeeze out her voice, "Uh, hello."
The atmosphere was still and quiet as both just looked at each other, one scared witless and the other attempting to pinch themselves from pure surprise and disbelief.
"Is this a dream?"
Usagi felt her spirits lift, the possibility of convincing her that she was a dream and to go back to sleep looked like a good option and an opportunity to slip out. "Uhh, yes?"
The light faded out from Emi's eyes and she looked down in disappointed, "Of course it is…."
It was a very haunting look, seeming accustomed to her eyes. The blonde sighed and dared to step forward, coming up to the side of the bed. "Emi," a gloved hand gently grasped a tiny fail one that was clenched, "It's not a dream."
Blue was met with glassy green, "It's not?"
Although pained and rigid, the heroine nodded at the girl.
"So you are Sailor Moon?"
"Yes."
Usagi let herself smile as the girl jumped up and wrapped her arms around her. She could feel the excitement and delight rolling in waves off the girl and her heart clenched again at it.
"Oh my god! You are real, you're real, you're real….." Emi snuggled herself more into her hero's embrace, closing her eyes, fully content on staying in Usagi's arms.
"I am," Moon spoke softly, rubbing the girl's back. The girl squeezed tighter, as if she let go, the blonde superhero would disappear in a blink of an eye. She whispered something into her shoulder that Usagi couldn't catch. "What did you say?"
"Thank you," she mumbled but this time it was more clear and the two words made Usagi seize up, her eyes blurry. She knew that she wouldn't stand a chance at not crying tonight.
"Why are you thanking me?," she asked confused and her wavering voice betraying her.
At last, Emi loosened her hug and receded back to sitting on her knees, the evidence of tears having gone down her face as orbs of vibrant green, that almost shone through the darkness of the room, stared at her, "Thank you for giving me hope and dreams."
"Uh Emi I-," Usagi stumbled and paused.
"Thank you for being a hero to me and everyone Ms. Moon."
Usagi sighed and swallowed the lump in her throat. "Emi I'm not as great as you think. I fall a lot and I mess up, make huge mistakes. I'm not perfect."
But the sickly girl kept her dazzling smile and glowing eyes. "So? Heroes aren't perfect Sailor Moon! I love you because you aren't perfect, you're someone that's clumsy and funny but you always save everyone because you care and have a huge heart." At the end of the sentence, the girl brought up her hand and carefully let it rest near Usagi's beating heart. "See, you have a strong heart that cares for everyone."
"Thank you Emi," she spoke softly. "But did you know you're my hero."
Finally Emi's face dropped into confusion. "What?"
"Well you see," the senshi flipped a stream of hair behind her, kneeling down at the bed, looking up at the girl from her position, "you have a strong heart too. And it's special kids like you who believe in me so much with that strong heart and who make me keep fighting, saving people. You're the reason why my heart is still beating strong. See." She brought her gloved hand to land on Emi's that was still resting on her chest.
More shines of tears began in the corners of Emi's eyes. "But I'm not strong and pretty like you."
"Emi, that's not what makes a hero. A hero is someone who, even in the darkest times, gives a sliver of light and hope to everyone. You, you make me who I am because you believe in me and make me have something to fight for, you're my hope. Don't ever think that you can't be a hero, anyone can be a hero."
Green eyes widened into saucers. "Really?"
"Yes," Usagi croaked with a few tears running down her cheeks. How did she get so lucky to have such an amazing girl look up to her? "Yes, really."
With a watery smile, Emi used her arm to wipe at the salty droplets streaming from her tear ducts, trying to recompose herself. "Uh, w-wait I have some p-pictures to show you. I'm sorry."
"It's okay. Usagi told me that you like to draw me a lot," the moon senshi flashed a brilliant and pleading smile as she too used a hand to wipe at her own tears, "Could I see them?"
Sudden fear flickered in the small girl, avoiding her hero's gaze for once. "Um well actually you don't have to look at them, they're not that good." Her small hands clutched the art folder to her chest, her posture becoming rigid as if protecting the drawings from any harm.
Standing up, Moon shifted to sit on the bed with the frail child. "Emi it's okay, Usagi told me how pretty they are, you can trust me."
Darting her eyes to the pig-tailed blonde, Emi slowly uncased herself and peeled away at the folder, gulping as she laid out the penciled sketches on the empty bed space. With hesitation, she explained in a small voice how she was inspired to draw each one, how she came up with the pose and how long it took her to complete each handwritten sketch.
And Usagi hung onto every word, commenting how she nailed her ledardary pose and round blue eyes perfectly. The child would blush and grin at each comment, snuggling more and more into the heroine's side as her eyelids began to grow heavy with exhaustion and she slurred her words.
They laughed and smiled as they went over each sketch, the high school student finding herself tracing the gentle lines of graphite on the paper, appreciating each stroke of the pencil the young artist used. The shading of her bows, the colorful facial expression she had drawn, the wisps of blonde hair framing her body, everything was done with such care and love.
Taking note of the little patient's nearing slumber, her numerous yawns had not gone unnoticed, Usagi gathered her sketches and slipped them back into the black folder. Emi's arms wound there way around the guardian's waist, nuzzling into her stomach.
"Please stay with me," she sleepily whispered. "Please protect me, I don't want to die…"
Usagi's hands reached around to hug her close, resting her chin on the girl's head. "I won't leave Emi, I'll always be there with you. In your heart always, I'll protect you."
"Sailor Moon?"
She felt the tears again. Something in her heart broke when she recalled the first day with Emi and how Mamoru explained her condition, how she had convinced herself that his words of reassurement were true but, she knew he was lying. "Mhm."
"Why do you fight for love and justice?" Her voice was quiet in the hospital room and Usagi could hear the distant beeping and voices of nurses outside the room but she blocked them out.
With a heavy heart, the fifteen-year-old remembered the wise words of someone she knew, and ached for. "I keep doing this Emi because of you guys. I want everyone to smile and let go of the stress and worry of their life. I want see bright, happy kids who are just having fun. It's something that I think every child and person should have, fun and happiness, no despair or sadness."
For a moment, the blonde sat still, thinking the girl in her arms had finally fallen asleep again but in the noise of the machines and quietness she heard her last words.
"I love you Sailor Moon...thank you…"
Droplets hit the bedspread and Usagi couldn't breath for half a second. Never did she think that she would be a role model of any kind, or idolized so much by someone. This little girl, someone who was so amazing and so pure, looked up to her and only wished to meet her.
"I love you too Emi," she kissed the top of her head and again rested her head again.
Not moving until she felt Emi's even and deep breaths of sleep, Usagi carefully unwound her arms from the girl, slowly letting her body settle back into the pillow and sheets. She pulled the quilt up to her neck, a hand smoothing her forehead before leaning down and placing a soft kiss on it. "Goodnight Emi."
With a teary eyed glance, and again placing the letter on her bedside, Usagi returned to the open window still, climbing out of it and entering the cool night air.
She had, unfortunately, never noticed that a dark-haired figure had been outside of the room the whole time.
Dropping to the ground, their eyes were wide and stuck with disbelief at what they had just witnessed, hand clenching the string of the newly bought birthday balloons. He was just going to sneak in and leave them in her room so Emi could wake up to a surprise in the morning but he was the one who was just surprised….
"It's something that I think every child should have, fun and happiness, no despair or sadness."
She laced his hand with hers. "I think that's a great goal to have Mamoru-san. All kids should have that."
The words were identical, exactly the same. Who else would answer like that? They were his words.
But she couldn't be….
The clumsiness, golden streams of hair, clear blue eyes, the way his heart had always twisted when he was near her, protecting her…
Whatever barrier that hid her identity from him was now thinly disappearing in his mind and only one person, one girl was in his mind. The perfect girl….
He ran his hands through his midnight locks violently, cursing to himself and thinking how much of an idiot he truly was.
'Usagi is Sailor Moon,' was Mamoru's only thought as he sat in the hallway, balloons floating to the ceiling as his hand fell limp as his body too, felt numb.
The pencil glided across the sketch paper effortlessly and in long strokes as the blonde artist drew in the dark strands of hair. She laid on her made bed and in her pink pajamas, her feet in the air and head propped up in her palm.
With a practiced hand she traced over her light pencils marks, making them more darker and bold. Her sapphire eyes followed the movements with intense concentration.
Even after coming back from her little night visit, she couldn't sleep because everytime her eyes closed she saw those blue pools of emotion, that smile, everything she hated before now she loved….
Using that word, it made her heart swell in dangerous ways because of the soul-crushing fear that accompanied it. He would never feel the same way, he would reject her. That was the fear that kept her at bay.
So to waste the time, Usagi did what she understood. She drew and sketched, keeping her mind off of her issues, using Emi as an artistic muse for sketching her thoughts.
But the problem is, she drew her problem, her issue.
She went over his teeth and mouth where it was upturned, matching the most beautiful smile she had ever seen on him. Using Emi's technique, Usagi went over her sketch with care and love, each mark intentional and precise. His face was perfectly shaped and she sketched the thickness of the black bangs that hung over his eyes, making him look even more sexier now that she noticed.
Placing the last few finishing touches, she dropped her pencil and examined her work, brushing the excess graphite left on the paper.
She sighed-He was beautiful even on paper.
Reaching out a finger, Usagi went up and down the clean lines of his face, impressed at how much she was able to capture him in one simple portrait. This right now, would probably be the closest she'll ever get to his chiseled face. She even included all the little things such as his slight cupid's bow, wrinkles of his nose, the creases in the corners of his eyes that he always got when he smiled big…..
The happiness and love she drew in his pupils that conveyed that whoever he was looking at off the page, was the light of his life. She regretted doing that, it made it hurt worse but who knows what tomorrow will bring.
She drifted off to sleep, using her sketch of Mamoru as a pillow.
Well I know I've been ghosting on this story but I had a real struggle with this chapter so hopefully you guys somewhat enjoyed it. If it helps, next chapter will definitely earn my M rating, I promise! Review and tell me your thoughts! The reviews I get are amazing and really motivate me so never be afraid of leaving a little note!
