Chapter Five: The Things We Need
Mamoru was walking along the street, hands in his pockets and face downcast as he thought about Usagi, thought about how much she meant to him and how worried he was for her welfare. She was so naïve, so innocent and yet she seemed to possess a profound inner strength and a steadfast determination that was a pale echo of stubbornness. He wanted to be there for her always, to keep her safe from people like the sleazes prowling the streets, to shower her with such adoration and appreciation that she would only ever love him …and he slowed, blinking as his mouth fell open a bit. He wanted her love? He wanted her to care? He couldn't remember the last time he had wanted anyone to love him, knowing that he could never find happiness in their company, not as long as the princess was out there somewhere and held all the answers he could need. Somehow though, the elusive promises of the princess held little weight when balanced against the radiant joy and honest affection he felt in her presence.
A smooth velvet voice undercut his thoughts and brought his attention to the fact that he wasn't alone on the road and that he was, in fact, standing in front of the steps leading to the temple where Hino Rei lived and worked. The raven-haired girl set aside her broom and smiled lightly, expression patiently amused as she repeated her words. "You love her don't you?" Rei asked softly. Mamoru started and let out a shaky breath as his brow furrowed. He tried several times to speak up, but each met with no success and finally he just looked to Rei with his heart in his eyes.
She gave a satisfied nod then before laughing, low and rich. "I just knew it was mutual …did you just now realize how you feel?" She reached forward and took one of his hands as he made no reply, still somewhat in a stupor as to the goings on. "Would you like to know what she told me once? The best feeling in the world is knowing that you belong somewhere to some person …that you are their everything and more, that you are needed and cared for and finally, that you belong. She might not know this herself right now, Mamoru-san …but I'm confident that she longs for, more than anything else, to belong with you. She needs you, Mamoru, just as you need her. Think about that and find a way to talk to her. Perhaps I'll be seeing you at the winter celebration in two nights?"
Mamoru was about to ask her what she meant when it dawned on him and he offered her a grin, squeezing her hand in mute thanks. "I'll be there, Rei-san." And he was gone again in the next minute, striding along the sidewalk with new hope in his heart as she watched with a smile before returning to her chores.
* * *
How he had survived two days without running into her once was beyond him. Of course he knew that she was recuperating from her illness and that she was likely struggling to achieve some peace of mind in the face of all that had happened to her recently, but still, it was a change of pace from crashing into her in the morning and exchanging verbal spars before meeting again at the arcade for round two. If she was still sick though and wouldn't be at Rei's temple he didn't know what he would do …although the idea of dropping by her house for a visit – as a concerned friend – had some appeal.
The celebration sounded as if it would be a pleasant enough ceremony to pass some time. It was a nighttime event, paper lanterns illuminating the grounds of the temple and a few tended fires adding extra light. There were pressed cherry blossoms scattered all over the earth – obviously kept from cherry blossom season for this express purpose – and there was much food and merriment. Rei and her grandfather, along with Yuuichoirou who was apparently a temple aid, were perpetually on the move talking to people and explaining the significance of the event and the purpose of the poppers and other festivities planned for the evening.
Mamoru recognized several of Usagi's friends and some people from his own school and he was about to give up hope entirely when he recognized Usagi's mother standing with a man he presumed to be Usagi's father and speaking with Rei. He threaded his way through the people gathered on the lawns and bowed politely once he reached their side, shaking the man's hand and accepting Ikuko's enthusiastic hug of greeting.
"Good evening, Mrs. Tsukino …Mr. Tsukino?" He addressed inquiringly.
"Ah, you're the boy I've heard so much about lately. Chiba, is it? Chiba Mamoru. Hai, I'm Usagi's father. Pleased to meet you."
"Likewise, Tsukino-sama." He smiled a bit tentatively after saying hello to Rei as well. "Is Usagi here by any chance?"
"She'll be here presently. She stayed with Shingo to wait for Mika to return home and then all three of them will be here." Kenji replied.
"Oh, Mika is such a dear …I think she really likes our Shingo-chan." Ikuko gushed, smiling widely at everyone.
Kenji sweatdropped and nodded. "Well, he's certainly taken a shining to her."
"Puppy love is the sweetest, isn't it?" Rei murmured before excusing herself to help Yuuichoirou with one of the mini-games set up in the yard.
"Hmm, it's nearly midnight, they should be here quite soon." Ikuko mused.
"How long does this celebration last?" Mamoru asked. "This is the first I've been to."
Kenji clapped him on the back warmly. "This will be a night to remember then. There are some fireworks set off at midnight, most in festive patterns like snowflakes to greet the coldest hour. Afterwards there are fire readings held and the games are played and people can dance until dawn when we officially welcome in the winter season."
Ikuko grinned and elbowed him gently. "Dawn is when lovers kiss, it's one of the most romantic and magical moments of the year." She smiled brightly at her husband. "It was when we were married, in fact."
"Happy anniversary, Mr. and Mrs. Tsukino!" Mamoru exclaimed, smiling genuinely.
"Arigato, Mamoru-kun." Kenji replied, hugging his wife close. "If you'll excuse us, we've got to go make Shingo and Mika uncomfortable. Aren't parents just the most embarrassing people?"
Luckily for him, Mamoru didn't hear the last of his words, his eyes following a familiar-looking girl in a white kimono with pale blue patterns as she finished climbing the stairs, her twin odangoes in a slightly different fashion – with the tails flipped up to form circles hanging down from the buns in what appeared to almost be a Leia from Star Wars style.
"Enjoy your evening, Mamoru-san." Ikuko added as her husband began to lead her away. "And be sweet with my daughter." That Mamoru did hear and he gave an embarrassed little chuckle as he waved and went to greet Usagi.
* * *
Usagi was pleasantly surprised when a hand reached out and caught her arm in a light hold. For a heartbeat she had been frightened that it was the man again but her fears were quelled when a familiar voice spoke to her softly.
"You surely don't want me to leave again, do you Odango?"
"Mamoru-chan!" She cried jubilantly, catching him in an unexpected hug. She had been fretting for the past 48 hours about how rude she had been when she sent him away and, had she not been stuck in bed with a raging fever, chills, and a cough that did little for her upset stomach. Seeing his dark blue eyes flickering with mirth and joy and hearing the warmth in his voice had made her at least certain that he wasn't going to hold anything she had said or done against her.
A sudden noise and an explosion of light made her jump and squeal as he instinctively pulled her close and both laughed out loud with relief as their gazes followed everyone else's to the sky where silver still stood out in the pretty picture of a moon and twinkling stars.
"The fireworks!" Usagi said, smiling hugely. "C'mon, Mamoru-chan, let's sit down and watch them!"
The fireworks lasted well over half an hour and afterwards the pair went about meeting and talking with people, Mamoru having taken Usagi's arm in a gentlemanly manner and escorting her about the temple grounds. They whiled away the hours playing games and talking quietly together as they wandered, a fire reading for Mamoru revealing four strange stones offering consol and a land of crystal where someone very dear lay entombed in a crystal coffin while Usagi's showed a little girl with pink hair and a tiny vision of a silver woman. Discussing the revelations, neither noticed as the sky began to lighten in color until Usagi pointed to a bright star in the sky, the two of them lying upon the frost-sheathed grass and trying to identify constellations and she saw the beginnings of the day break. Gasping softly, Usagi tucked herself closer to his warmth, putting a small hand on his shoulder and gesturing with her other to the horizon.
"It's a new day." Mamoru whispered. "Usagi …about the night of the attack …" He began tentatively, working to breach the subject that they had avoided all night.
Nibbling pensively on her lower lip, Usagi gave him the ghost of a smile and pressed two fingers against his lips. "Shh …please, let's not ruin such a wonderful night …I'm fine now, I'm safe. Given some time and with the support of my amazing friends and family I'll get over it …I'll have to."
"Oh, Usa." Mamoru mumbled, giving her a lopsided grin. "You've got too much weight on your shoulders …I shouldn't have mentioned a thing."
"No, no, it's okay …it's still too sore a subject however …please, just hold me for awhile? It's suddenly so cold." Fright had darkened her deep blue gaze and he wrapped his arms around her securely, rocking her gently and wishing that he hadn't said a word. He knew that in time she would be less hesitant to talk about it and, though he was deeply concerned over her physical and emotional well-being, he wasn't about to press the issue.
"This dawn is for you, Usagi." He breathed at last, rubbing her back gently and kissing the top of her head. She giggled softly and squirmed a bit to look up at him, smiling with delight.
"The sun shines for you, Mamoru," Usagi whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to the corner of his mouth before snuggling closer into his embrace as they both watched the sky change from a dark magenta to a burning crimson-gold as the rays of the sun pierced the darkness of the dawn like arrows and the sun rose up into the sky, shining down upon the young couple with all the warmth in the world.
Standard Disclaimer: Sailor Moon & Co. do not belong to me.
AN's: I apologize if the ending seems a bit rushed because really it is and if anything didn't make sense, please contact me to ask about it. I'm going to need to revise this to make it better and anything you'd like to say or ask could help. I finished this at about two-thirty in the morning with my index finger superglued to my thumb – yo es muy tonta. Love you all,
Hugs, kisses and sweet *day*dreams ~ Aldrean Treu Peri, Neo-Moon Guardian ~
See you, Space Cowboy!