Title: Angel in the Snow
Author: Lisa
Chapter: 3
Website: http://hometown.aol.com/lisazumstories/myhomepage/index.html
Rating: G
Author's Notes: Hi minna! It's been a *really* long time since I actually wrote something, so this chapter might be *very* bad. But don't be too afraid to read it...^^;; A big thanks to everyone who has read this story! Enjoy! There will be major mush ahead, so you've been warned! ^_^
Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and the others don't belong to me, but this story does.
*************************
She groggily opened her eyes a fraction, sighing happily. Snuggling deeper into Mamoru's embrace Usagi took in a deep breath of the cold air and slowly let it out. The events of last night were fresh in her mind, and they brought a smile on her flushed features. After two cups of hot chocolate, Usagi had comfortably settled into Mamoru's welcoming arms, listening to his oftentimes humorous stories about college life. She had then filled him in about Tokyo, though nothing much had happened since his leave. Before long, Usagi had fallen asleep, and Mamoru was content to watch his beloved sleep. A soft smile graced her lips, one that brought a smile on his lips as well. He had not realized how much he missed her until their meeting at the airport. Placing a gentle kiss on her forehead, he watched her snore softly in her sleep. A few minutes later, Mamoru was asleep as well...
"Morning," she breathed, stifling a yawn with her right hand, "did you sleep well?"
He grinned. "What do you think?" Was his reply before he placed a quick kiss on her cheek, emitting a giggle from the blonde.
"I can't believe we fell asleep on the sofa." Looking down at her wrinkled clothing, she exhaled a breath of air. "And look! Now my clothes are all wrinkled!" She pouted cutely in mock disappointment before grinning. "Doesn't matter," she dismissed with a wave of her hand. Mamoru stretched beside her.
"So Usako," he said, "what do you feel like doing today?"
She looked up at him with her still sleepy eyes, and he felt his heart skip a beat. The sunlight streamed in through the shades from the other side of the room, and illuminated her already glowing figure. Her hair reflected the rays, giving it an unearthly glow of bright yellow. He cupped her cheek in his hand, caressing her smooth skin. Usagi softened under his touch, her eyes showing all the love she had for him in them.
"I don't care," she whispered almost inaudibly, her fingertips touching the side of his face, "as long as I get to spend it with you."
Their lips briefly met. "Deal," replied Mamoru. "Now, how about some breakfast?"
At the mentioning of food, Usagi stopped wiping at her eyes and beamed, any traces of sleep leaving her. "Great! I'm starved!"
Mamoru couldn't help but let out a small laugh. 'That's Usagi all right,' he contemplated, 'leave it to her to never turn down food.' She had not changed one bit since he left Japan, Mamoru noticed. Which was good; he would not have wanted her any other way.
Usagi reluctantly stepped out of the warmth and security of Mamoru's strong arms and yawned, walking over to the window slowly. Pulling the curtains halfway, she looked out from the dorm. Upon taking one glance outside, she gasped sharply. "Mamo-chan! Mamo-chan!" Her cries sounded urgent in the almost empty room, echoing against the whitewashed walls. Hearing her calls, Mamoru immediately ran from his place in the bathroom where he had been brushing his teeth. A toothbrush still in hand, he looked at his girlfriend, half expecting a disaster of some sort.
"Snow! Look, it's snowing!" Her eyes sparkled beautifully and Mamoru couldn't help but chuckle. His arms unconsciously wrapped around Usagi's waist from behind. He heard a quiet noise of contentment from the blonde before she leaned into his arms, laying her head on his shoulder.
"Yes, it's quite a beautiful sight, isn't it?" He whispered into her ear. "But not as beautiful as you." He smiled when Usagi flushed a crimson red.
"How come you're not as excited as I am, Mamo-chan?" Her eyes focused on Mamoru's face.
"Well, it snowed a couple days ago before you came," he explained quietly. Usagi pouted.
"No fair!" Laughing, Mamoru kissed her frown away.
Their peaceful moment lasted a few seconds more before the loud rumbling of Usagi's stomach broke it. Her face flushed red again. "Gomen," she muttered.
The last pancake had barely been eaten before the door to the apartment abruptly swung open, letting a gust of cold wind come into the cozy apartment. A young man entered hurriedly, then set off to brush snow off himself. Rubbing numb hands together in hopes to warm them, he flashed a smile toward Mamoru.
"Hey," he called into the kitchen before heading into his room.
Usagi took a brief glance at the man before he disappeared from her view. From her viewpoint, he had light brown hair. He was a few inches taller than Mamoru. The color of his eyes remained unknown to the blonde. "Was that your roommate?"
Mamoru grinned broadly. "Hai. He went to a party last night."
"Oh." Usagi looked down at her hands, not daring to meet his stormy eyes. A party...that, she bitterly assumed, Mamoru was invited to as well. And there would certainly be many attractive women there, and...Usagi dared not continue with her thoughts. "Was I in the way?" As soon as the question slipped out, she regretted asking him. 'Mamoru has a whole new life here,' she thought harshly. 'What happens if I'm in his way? That I'm just stopping him–'
He nearly choked on his coffee when Usagi said those words dejectedly. Giving her a surprised look, Mamoru then realized just how much was going on in her head. How many doubts swarmed in her mind, doubts that she should never have had in the first place. 'How could she think that?' Was his first thought. A wash of guilt swept into him. Mamoru had always assumed Usagi knew that she was his life; that he would never want to be anywhere else but with her. She was everything to him, had she forgotten?
"Usako..." He was at her side in a second, fingers gently tipping up her chin so he could look into her teary eyes. "No...no! I..." He sighed deeply, closing his eyes momentarily, trying to grope for the right words. "There's no place I would rather be than with you."
She smiled weakly. "Really?" Seeing him nod with conviction, Usagi let out a shaky breath. She had just voiced the fears that had been building up in her since the day Mamoru left for college. Fears that he would find someone much better than she was, someone who deserved him more than she did. Relief washed through her body at hearing his honest pledge of devotion.
"Oh Usako..."
She stared into his blue depths, licking her lips nervously before leaning down to kiss him.
"Um...is this a bad time to ask for an introduction?"
The girl pulled away promptly while Mamoru shot his roommate a glare. The man shrugged innocently before striding over to the kitchen table and taking a seat.
"So..." He studied the petite blonde seated next to him. "You must be Usagi. Mamoru sure has good taste, doesn't he?" He winked at his friend while Usagi blushed for the third time that day. Mamoru rolled his eyes but a smile was on his face.
Usagi shyly extended her hand for an awkward handshake before returning to her boyfriend's embrace. "It's...nice to...meet you," was all she said, stumbling with her English. "What is your name?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. My name is Ron."
"Ron.." She repeated the name in her mind several times before offering him another smile.
"My friend Mamoru here talks about you all the time," he said playfully, rolling his eyes. "He never stops." A serious expression crossed his handsome features before he leaned across the table. "And I'm not joking about that either." Ron promptly received a slap from an annoyed Mamoru before both men shared a laugh. Usagi couldn't help but wonder if that was true, and reminded herself to ask him of that later.
"Well, I going to go to my room again. Uh...wouldn't want to get in your way."
Flashing a grin toward the couple, Ron got up and strode down the narrow hallway in quick steps.
"He seems like a nice guy," Usagi commented with an amused air, immediately switching to speaking Japanese as soon as he was out of sight. One look into Mamoru's eyes wiped the smile from her face. His eyes were filled with such sadness, and extreme guilt was evident in their stormy depths.
"Mamo-chan..." Her hand touched his cheek softly, watching as his eyes closed for a mere few seconds before gazing into her own sky blue eyes once more. "What's wrong?"
"Usako..." His voice was quiet and overcome with emotion. "I...what you said before..."
'Oh no...' Usagi shivered involuntarily despite the warmth of the apartment. "Mamo-chan..." She could only utter his name as no other words could accurately convey what she wanted to say.
"I can't help but feel guilty for letting you have those fears. I–" He looked down at his hands.
"There's so much I want to say..."
The blonde shook her head. "No, it's my fault. I shouldn't have ever doubted your love for me..."
"Just know...Usako, you mean the world to me."
"And you to me..." She was hesitant before continuing, "but I cannot help but think that there's someone out there who deserves you more..." A finger silenced her trembling lips.
"Iie! Never think that..."
Their eyes met, and the world around them ceased to meet. Two lovers slowly reached out to one another, comforting each other with their touch. Their lips met in a deep kiss that covered the words unsaid. When they parted, breathing heavily and eyes wide, there were no more doubts.
Usagi lay her head comfortably upon Mamoru's right shoulder as they slowly strolled down the street. "Wow, it's so beautiful out here," she murmured in awe. He chuckled in reply, taking in his girlfriend's breathtaking complexion. Her cheeks were flushed, a rosy pink in color, and every breath she exhaled could be seen. Her hair gently lapped in the cool breeze, falling softly about her face. Mamoru couldn't resist brushing away the few golden strands from Usagi's eyes. She instantly looked up, eyes conveying their thanks. The sidewalk was abandoned save for a few pedestrians bustling about, eager to get out of the cold, leaving the couple with more than enough privacy. Their boots crunched softly in the snow, and small flakes covered their hair and coats. Usagi caught a snowflake in her tongue, sighing happily.
"I love snow..." She paused, looking up at her one and only. "I remember when I was young...I used to spend hours outside in the snow. It was so much fun..."
Mamoru said nothing, remembering the lonely winters he had at the orphanage when he was young. "Hai," he said finally, "I bet it was."
"Mamo-chan? Tomorrow's Christmas."
"I know."
"So...do you have any plans?"
"Not in particular...how about we spend Christmas at home? Together..." He wrapped an arm around her small waist, pulling her closer to him, reveling in the warmth that radiated from her.
"Agreed," she said simply, knowing that Mamoru knew how much that would mean to her, and him as well. She was well aware of the Christmases he had when he was a boy, and was determined to replace those bitter memories with sweeter ones.
"Usako..." he said after awhile, "there's going to be a big party after Christmas."
"Really?" Her eyes lit up. "I love parties! But..."
"But what, Usako?"
She tilted her head to avoid his probing eyes. "I don't have a fancy enough dress for such an occasion..."
"Oh, Usako, is that all?" Seeing her careful nod, he continued on, "Because I was just going to suggest that we go shopping. Do you want to go?"
"Shopping! Of course!"
The stores were packed that afternoon as Usagi and Mamoru made their way into the mall. People ran away from shop to shop, taking advantage of the Christmas sales. Shopping bags filled with toys, clothing, and jewelry were in the hands of almost every customer there. Usagi squeezed Mamoru's hand lightly, and the two shared a quiet moment amongst the crowd. A nagging voice in the back of her mind reminded the blonde to ask about what Ron had said earlier, that Mamoru constantly brought her name up in conversation. Although she was curious to find out, a part of her wondered if Ron was just kidding. Taking in a deep breath, Usagi decided to ask.
"Mamo-chan?"
"Hai?"
"Um...I was wondering...about what Ron said earlier."
They sat down on a bench in front of a store. "What did he say?"
"Uh...about you always talking about me..." She hesitated when he nodded in recognition.
"It's true," he answered her question even before she mustered up the courage to ask him, "I do talk about you a lot. Is that all right?"
"Oh no, I mean, yes, it's fine." She felt her cheeks grow hot and struggled to control herself. 'He thinks about me all the time,' her heart sang. Usagi couldn't help but let herself smile. "I just..."
"I think about you every day," he confessed honestly. "No matter what I was doing, you were always on my mind, in my dreams."
One look into his eyes and Usagi felt herself fall deeper in love with him, if at all possible. His eyes shone with complete devotion, kindness, and love that her legs would have given away if she had been standing up. Here was a man who loved her for just being her, and whom she loved back with all her heart and soul. Tears filled in her eyes and threatened to flow. 'This has to be one of the happiest days of my life,' she thought happily.
She smoothed out the wrinkles in the stunning silk dress and checked her reflection in the full length mirror in the dressing room, satisfied by its appearance. Usagi casually strode outside into the store, where Mamoru was presently seated in one of the waiting chairs, deep in thought. Upon seeing her, his mouth dropped open, and Usagi tried desperately to suppress the grin at his reaction.
"Well?" She turned around in one full circle for him to see the back.
"Usako...you look..."
"Arigato," she whispered.
The dress was a pure white in color, sleeveless, with thin straps at the shoulder that complemented her eyes perfectly. It clung to Usagi tightly, outlining her curves and flowing smoothly down to her ankles. The second Mamoru had laid eyes on that dress, he knew it was right for Usagi. He mentally grimaced at the considerable price it would cost, but that was not important at the moment. He paid for the dress, getting an astonished look from the salesperson for doing so. Usagi happily took the bag from the counter and left with Mamoru.
The drive to Mamoru's apartment was silent. Usagi was busy smoothing out every wrinkle in her dress, and Mamoru concentrated on the road. With all that snow, the road was slippery, and he couldn't afford to endanger Usagi's and his life in any way.
"Aishiteru Mamo-chan..." She whispered sleepily, and seconds later, Usagi was fast asleep.
Looking at her lovingly, Mamoru replied back just as quietly, "Aishiteru..."
********************
I know Christmas has been over for a few months...^^;; But...another chapter! ^_^ And now that I have reread the chapter...it sort of sucks to me...*coughs* I haven't written mushy scenes for a long time (or any kind of fanfiction for that matter), so if I am a bit rusty, and am rushing things up a bit, please bear with me. ^^;; I still need to get into my usual writing style. I'm very sorry if this chapter was a disappointment. But...I would still like to hear your thoughts! Did you like it, or did it suck? Thanks for reading, and feel free to review or e-mail me at LisaZUMstories@aol.com or Lisafics@sailormoon.com.
This story written 2002 and posted April 2003.
Author: Lisa
Chapter: 3
Website: http://hometown.aol.com/lisazumstories/myhomepage/index.html
Rating: G
Author's Notes: Hi minna! It's been a *really* long time since I actually wrote something, so this chapter might be *very* bad. But don't be too afraid to read it...^^;; A big thanks to everyone who has read this story! Enjoy! There will be major mush ahead, so you've been warned! ^_^
Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and the others don't belong to me, but this story does.
*************************
She groggily opened her eyes a fraction, sighing happily. Snuggling deeper into Mamoru's embrace Usagi took in a deep breath of the cold air and slowly let it out. The events of last night were fresh in her mind, and they brought a smile on her flushed features. After two cups of hot chocolate, Usagi had comfortably settled into Mamoru's welcoming arms, listening to his oftentimes humorous stories about college life. She had then filled him in about Tokyo, though nothing much had happened since his leave. Before long, Usagi had fallen asleep, and Mamoru was content to watch his beloved sleep. A soft smile graced her lips, one that brought a smile on his lips as well. He had not realized how much he missed her until their meeting at the airport. Placing a gentle kiss on her forehead, he watched her snore softly in her sleep. A few minutes later, Mamoru was asleep as well...
"Morning," she breathed, stifling a yawn with her right hand, "did you sleep well?"
He grinned. "What do you think?" Was his reply before he placed a quick kiss on her cheek, emitting a giggle from the blonde.
"I can't believe we fell asleep on the sofa." Looking down at her wrinkled clothing, she exhaled a breath of air. "And look! Now my clothes are all wrinkled!" She pouted cutely in mock disappointment before grinning. "Doesn't matter," she dismissed with a wave of her hand. Mamoru stretched beside her.
"So Usako," he said, "what do you feel like doing today?"
She looked up at him with her still sleepy eyes, and he felt his heart skip a beat. The sunlight streamed in through the shades from the other side of the room, and illuminated her already glowing figure. Her hair reflected the rays, giving it an unearthly glow of bright yellow. He cupped her cheek in his hand, caressing her smooth skin. Usagi softened under his touch, her eyes showing all the love she had for him in them.
"I don't care," she whispered almost inaudibly, her fingertips touching the side of his face, "as long as I get to spend it with you."
Their lips briefly met. "Deal," replied Mamoru. "Now, how about some breakfast?"
At the mentioning of food, Usagi stopped wiping at her eyes and beamed, any traces of sleep leaving her. "Great! I'm starved!"
Mamoru couldn't help but let out a small laugh. 'That's Usagi all right,' he contemplated, 'leave it to her to never turn down food.' She had not changed one bit since he left Japan, Mamoru noticed. Which was good; he would not have wanted her any other way.
Usagi reluctantly stepped out of the warmth and security of Mamoru's strong arms and yawned, walking over to the window slowly. Pulling the curtains halfway, she looked out from the dorm. Upon taking one glance outside, she gasped sharply. "Mamo-chan! Mamo-chan!" Her cries sounded urgent in the almost empty room, echoing against the whitewashed walls. Hearing her calls, Mamoru immediately ran from his place in the bathroom where he had been brushing his teeth. A toothbrush still in hand, he looked at his girlfriend, half expecting a disaster of some sort.
"Snow! Look, it's snowing!" Her eyes sparkled beautifully and Mamoru couldn't help but chuckle. His arms unconsciously wrapped around Usagi's waist from behind. He heard a quiet noise of contentment from the blonde before she leaned into his arms, laying her head on his shoulder.
"Yes, it's quite a beautiful sight, isn't it?" He whispered into her ear. "But not as beautiful as you." He smiled when Usagi flushed a crimson red.
"How come you're not as excited as I am, Mamo-chan?" Her eyes focused on Mamoru's face.
"Well, it snowed a couple days ago before you came," he explained quietly. Usagi pouted.
"No fair!" Laughing, Mamoru kissed her frown away.
Their peaceful moment lasted a few seconds more before the loud rumbling of Usagi's stomach broke it. Her face flushed red again. "Gomen," she muttered.
The last pancake had barely been eaten before the door to the apartment abruptly swung open, letting a gust of cold wind come into the cozy apartment. A young man entered hurriedly, then set off to brush snow off himself. Rubbing numb hands together in hopes to warm them, he flashed a smile toward Mamoru.
"Hey," he called into the kitchen before heading into his room.
Usagi took a brief glance at the man before he disappeared from her view. From her viewpoint, he had light brown hair. He was a few inches taller than Mamoru. The color of his eyes remained unknown to the blonde. "Was that your roommate?"
Mamoru grinned broadly. "Hai. He went to a party last night."
"Oh." Usagi looked down at her hands, not daring to meet his stormy eyes. A party...that, she bitterly assumed, Mamoru was invited to as well. And there would certainly be many attractive women there, and...Usagi dared not continue with her thoughts. "Was I in the way?" As soon as the question slipped out, she regretted asking him. 'Mamoru has a whole new life here,' she thought harshly. 'What happens if I'm in his way? That I'm just stopping him–'
He nearly choked on his coffee when Usagi said those words dejectedly. Giving her a surprised look, Mamoru then realized just how much was going on in her head. How many doubts swarmed in her mind, doubts that she should never have had in the first place. 'How could she think that?' Was his first thought. A wash of guilt swept into him. Mamoru had always assumed Usagi knew that she was his life; that he would never want to be anywhere else but with her. She was everything to him, had she forgotten?
"Usako..." He was at her side in a second, fingers gently tipping up her chin so he could look into her teary eyes. "No...no! I..." He sighed deeply, closing his eyes momentarily, trying to grope for the right words. "There's no place I would rather be than with you."
She smiled weakly. "Really?" Seeing him nod with conviction, Usagi let out a shaky breath. She had just voiced the fears that had been building up in her since the day Mamoru left for college. Fears that he would find someone much better than she was, someone who deserved him more than she did. Relief washed through her body at hearing his honest pledge of devotion.
"Oh Usako..."
She stared into his blue depths, licking her lips nervously before leaning down to kiss him.
"Um...is this a bad time to ask for an introduction?"
The girl pulled away promptly while Mamoru shot his roommate a glare. The man shrugged innocently before striding over to the kitchen table and taking a seat.
"So..." He studied the petite blonde seated next to him. "You must be Usagi. Mamoru sure has good taste, doesn't he?" He winked at his friend while Usagi blushed for the third time that day. Mamoru rolled his eyes but a smile was on his face.
Usagi shyly extended her hand for an awkward handshake before returning to her boyfriend's embrace. "It's...nice to...meet you," was all she said, stumbling with her English. "What is your name?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. My name is Ron."
"Ron.." She repeated the name in her mind several times before offering him another smile.
"My friend Mamoru here talks about you all the time," he said playfully, rolling his eyes. "He never stops." A serious expression crossed his handsome features before he leaned across the table. "And I'm not joking about that either." Ron promptly received a slap from an annoyed Mamoru before both men shared a laugh. Usagi couldn't help but wonder if that was true, and reminded herself to ask him of that later.
"Well, I going to go to my room again. Uh...wouldn't want to get in your way."
Flashing a grin toward the couple, Ron got up and strode down the narrow hallway in quick steps.
"He seems like a nice guy," Usagi commented with an amused air, immediately switching to speaking Japanese as soon as he was out of sight. One look into Mamoru's eyes wiped the smile from her face. His eyes were filled with such sadness, and extreme guilt was evident in their stormy depths.
"Mamo-chan..." Her hand touched his cheek softly, watching as his eyes closed for a mere few seconds before gazing into her own sky blue eyes once more. "What's wrong?"
"Usako..." His voice was quiet and overcome with emotion. "I...what you said before..."
'Oh no...' Usagi shivered involuntarily despite the warmth of the apartment. "Mamo-chan..." She could only utter his name as no other words could accurately convey what she wanted to say.
"I can't help but feel guilty for letting you have those fears. I–" He looked down at his hands.
"There's so much I want to say..."
The blonde shook her head. "No, it's my fault. I shouldn't have ever doubted your love for me..."
"Just know...Usako, you mean the world to me."
"And you to me..." She was hesitant before continuing, "but I cannot help but think that there's someone out there who deserves you more..." A finger silenced her trembling lips.
"Iie! Never think that..."
Their eyes met, and the world around them ceased to meet. Two lovers slowly reached out to one another, comforting each other with their touch. Their lips met in a deep kiss that covered the words unsaid. When they parted, breathing heavily and eyes wide, there were no more doubts.
Usagi lay her head comfortably upon Mamoru's right shoulder as they slowly strolled down the street. "Wow, it's so beautiful out here," she murmured in awe. He chuckled in reply, taking in his girlfriend's breathtaking complexion. Her cheeks were flushed, a rosy pink in color, and every breath she exhaled could be seen. Her hair gently lapped in the cool breeze, falling softly about her face. Mamoru couldn't resist brushing away the few golden strands from Usagi's eyes. She instantly looked up, eyes conveying their thanks. The sidewalk was abandoned save for a few pedestrians bustling about, eager to get out of the cold, leaving the couple with more than enough privacy. Their boots crunched softly in the snow, and small flakes covered their hair and coats. Usagi caught a snowflake in her tongue, sighing happily.
"I love snow..." She paused, looking up at her one and only. "I remember when I was young...I used to spend hours outside in the snow. It was so much fun..."
Mamoru said nothing, remembering the lonely winters he had at the orphanage when he was young. "Hai," he said finally, "I bet it was."
"Mamo-chan? Tomorrow's Christmas."
"I know."
"So...do you have any plans?"
"Not in particular...how about we spend Christmas at home? Together..." He wrapped an arm around her small waist, pulling her closer to him, reveling in the warmth that radiated from her.
"Agreed," she said simply, knowing that Mamoru knew how much that would mean to her, and him as well. She was well aware of the Christmases he had when he was a boy, and was determined to replace those bitter memories with sweeter ones.
"Usako..." he said after awhile, "there's going to be a big party after Christmas."
"Really?" Her eyes lit up. "I love parties! But..."
"But what, Usako?"
She tilted her head to avoid his probing eyes. "I don't have a fancy enough dress for such an occasion..."
"Oh, Usako, is that all?" Seeing her careful nod, he continued on, "Because I was just going to suggest that we go shopping. Do you want to go?"
"Shopping! Of course!"
The stores were packed that afternoon as Usagi and Mamoru made their way into the mall. People ran away from shop to shop, taking advantage of the Christmas sales. Shopping bags filled with toys, clothing, and jewelry were in the hands of almost every customer there. Usagi squeezed Mamoru's hand lightly, and the two shared a quiet moment amongst the crowd. A nagging voice in the back of her mind reminded the blonde to ask about what Ron had said earlier, that Mamoru constantly brought her name up in conversation. Although she was curious to find out, a part of her wondered if Ron was just kidding. Taking in a deep breath, Usagi decided to ask.
"Mamo-chan?"
"Hai?"
"Um...I was wondering...about what Ron said earlier."
They sat down on a bench in front of a store. "What did he say?"
"Uh...about you always talking about me..." She hesitated when he nodded in recognition.
"It's true," he answered her question even before she mustered up the courage to ask him, "I do talk about you a lot. Is that all right?"
"Oh no, I mean, yes, it's fine." She felt her cheeks grow hot and struggled to control herself. 'He thinks about me all the time,' her heart sang. Usagi couldn't help but let herself smile. "I just..."
"I think about you every day," he confessed honestly. "No matter what I was doing, you were always on my mind, in my dreams."
One look into his eyes and Usagi felt herself fall deeper in love with him, if at all possible. His eyes shone with complete devotion, kindness, and love that her legs would have given away if she had been standing up. Here was a man who loved her for just being her, and whom she loved back with all her heart and soul. Tears filled in her eyes and threatened to flow. 'This has to be one of the happiest days of my life,' she thought happily.
She smoothed out the wrinkles in the stunning silk dress and checked her reflection in the full length mirror in the dressing room, satisfied by its appearance. Usagi casually strode outside into the store, where Mamoru was presently seated in one of the waiting chairs, deep in thought. Upon seeing her, his mouth dropped open, and Usagi tried desperately to suppress the grin at his reaction.
"Well?" She turned around in one full circle for him to see the back.
"Usako...you look..."
"Arigato," she whispered.
The dress was a pure white in color, sleeveless, with thin straps at the shoulder that complemented her eyes perfectly. It clung to Usagi tightly, outlining her curves and flowing smoothly down to her ankles. The second Mamoru had laid eyes on that dress, he knew it was right for Usagi. He mentally grimaced at the considerable price it would cost, but that was not important at the moment. He paid for the dress, getting an astonished look from the salesperson for doing so. Usagi happily took the bag from the counter and left with Mamoru.
The drive to Mamoru's apartment was silent. Usagi was busy smoothing out every wrinkle in her dress, and Mamoru concentrated on the road. With all that snow, the road was slippery, and he couldn't afford to endanger Usagi's and his life in any way.
"Aishiteru Mamo-chan..." She whispered sleepily, and seconds later, Usagi was fast asleep.
Looking at her lovingly, Mamoru replied back just as quietly, "Aishiteru..."
********************
I know Christmas has been over for a few months...^^;; But...another chapter! ^_^ And now that I have reread the chapter...it sort of sucks to me...*coughs* I haven't written mushy scenes for a long time (or any kind of fanfiction for that matter), so if I am a bit rusty, and am rushing things up a bit, please bear with me. ^^;; I still need to get into my usual writing style. I'm very sorry if this chapter was a disappointment. But...I would still like to hear your thoughts! Did you like it, or did it suck? Thanks for reading, and feel free to review or e-mail me at LisaZUMstories@aol.com or Lisafics@sailormoon.com.
This story written 2002 and posted April 2003.