Title: Angel in the Snow
Author: Lisa
Chapter: 6
Rating: G
Website: hometown.aol.com/lisazumstories
Author's Notes:
Wow...another chapter. For some strange reason, this is the only story I can concentrate on writing now. I am hoping to complete this by Christmas, as I have another *long* fanfic I have already started to work on. So, enjoy, and please review/e-mail! If you want to chat, feel free to e-mail/AIM! Arigato to moonlight8, Ellen, Usako4life (hey you! *grin*), Silver Running Water, Akimura, Wolfblaze, samsonite, Moon-Princess13, and Carla Fox for reviewing my last chapter! ^_^ A special thank you goes to White Eternity and mae for following this story for such a long time (since chapter 3). Updates to this story take *forever,* but I can count on you two to be there to read them!
Disclaimers: Sailor Moon and the others don't belong to me, but this story does.
***************
Usagi stood bent over the kitchen counter, one of Mamoru's Japanese cooking manuals at hand, left brow scrunched in utter confusion. It was as if the instructions were in English, or...some other foreign language she had no patience nor any intention on learning. Frustrated, she slapped it down firmly with a loud smack. Sighing, she briefed an overtired look at the food strewn about the small area. Various meats, vegetables, and spices littered literally every inch of the place. Luckily, Mamoru had already done the grocery shopping prior to her arrival, as not a single store was open today. She was pleased to find the refrigerator stocked upon its opening. Not the case anymore.
'Maybe I should've actually tried learning from Mako-chan's lessons instead of just eating,' she thought bitterly. The young woman had told Mamoru that Makoto was helping her learn to cook...which was relatively true. She had indeed been going over to her house during weekends; long afternoon hours of slaving away at reading Rei's old manga whilst Makoto attempted to debrief her on the art of cooking. The blonde had conveniently left out the part where her duties as student consisted of mostly eating...once Makoto had promised to never again instruct Usagi (which she conveniently forgot every Saturday), and made everything by herself. The food tasted better that way.
Somehow, Christmas dinner did not have the same appeal it did some hours ago, when she actually was looking forward to show off her cooking skills. That was, if she had any to begin with. In all honesty, the extent of her cooking resembled warming prepackaged food, or reheating leftovers. She picked up the directions for the fourth time, fanning it in front of her face. Usagi suddenly had newfound appreciation for her mother Ikuko, who had to constantly slave away in the kitchen. At least the afternoon had its worth. How could she stand it?
Pouting, the blonde made her way toward Mamoru, who grinned widely in reply, silently marveling at the way her full lips pursed when she made the gesture. He gave her a quick peck on the forehead before taking a seat on the couch, thick book in hand.
"Give up yet, Usako?"
He received a responding glare. "How can you even ask that?" she said, as if that was the last thing on her mind, "of course not!" With a loud huff and a mumbled sentence about how unsupportive he was, she raised her head high in mock irritation and marched loudly into the kitchen once again. Mamoru chuckled, flipping to the first chapter in one swift motion. Staring blankly at the small print, he found it excruciatingly hard to read his favorite novel with Usagi being only feet away. After all, his beloved girlfriend and future wife remained much more intriguing than a book he had read one time too many. He could read it anytime. Throwing the book carelessly on the coffee table that elicited a small thud as it landed, he soon joined her in her futile escapades, though proving to be more of a distraction than anything. He planted small, brisk kisses along Usagi's neckline, taking his time to tease her burning skin until she drew in a shuddering breath, melting like snow into his arms.
"Mamo-chan..." She nearly whined in weak protest, palms pushing him away, regardless how substantially her heart protested otherwise. "This isn't helping! At this rate, we won't be having any dinner." Usagi turned around, smacking him lightly on the arm. Bright blue eyes gazed lovingly into his own. Mamoru discovered he had trouble breathing. After all this time, she could still take his breath away...unintentionally, of course.
"Will you help me, Mamo-chan?"
"Hai, of course I will," he managed after resuming his capability to speak. Glancing at all the materials scattered about, he inquired, "What do you need help with?"
She hesitated momentarily, contemplating before shoving the entire fifty page guide into his large hands.
"How about you read me the instructions, and make sure I'm doing them right?"
The dark-haired man agreed with a vigorous nod. What a perfect opportunity to ensure Usagi wouldn't burn down his apartment! She beamed at him, standing on tiptoe to steal a kiss, a reward for her dedication to making the dinner.
"First, let's see if you can boil water properly."
Usagi's lips stopped centimeters away from their destination and looked at him as if he were crazy. "What for? Anyone can boil water!" She was insulted at the assumption. 'I may be impaired when it comes to actual cooking, but heating water?'
He cringed at her accusing tone and raised a hand in submission. "Just to make sure," he replied guiltily. "I'm not doubting your ability to heat water, really. Besides, we need it for later use."
Mamoru was too much to resist; Usagi could, in no earthly way possible, stay mad at him for more than thirty seconds. He could always find a way to justify his every action, and more than make up for his offense afterward. Mamoru was just perfect like that. She nodded, only exaggerated her sigh to show her discontent.
"Fine," she grumped.
"That's my girl."
"You better believe it. If I weren't your girl, I wouldn't be doing this right now," she grumbled. His short laugh was like music to her ears. He seldom laughed, to her dismay, so she constantly tried to get him to do so. This past week had definitely been a success.
"Of course. While you're doing so, let me go and find my tuxedo for tomorrow night's party." The dark-haired student reluctantly let his possessive grip on Usagi's slender waist drop. She trembled slightly at the loss of contact, a whimper forming in her throat which she suppressed. 'He's just leaving for a second,' she scolded herself. 'It's not like you can't live without seeing him for two minutes...' The argument wasn't as strong or decisive as she'd preferred, but she dropped the matter. Right now, she had a mission to accomplish. She would show her boyfriend that, although her cooking abilities were limited, she could at least boil water.
Usagi filled a pot halfway from the sink and placed it gently upon the spotless stove. 'Leave it to Mamo-chan to own streak-free kitchen appliances,' she mused dryly. 'That could be worked to my advantage in the future.'
"There!" A triumphant smile lifted the corners of her mouth as she bent over, waiting for air bubbles to form at the base of the container. A minute passed. Two minutes passed. She felt the side of the container with a cautious fingertip and found it not a tad bit warm. What had gone wrong? Glancing at the stove, the blonde realized that she had forgotten to ever turn it on. She flushed beet red, suddenly relieved her love was not there to witness her embarrassment. He would laugh for sure and where would that leave her? Twirling the small black knob to high, she gave a satisfied nod and skipped out of the kitchen. Mamoru wasn't back yet from the trip to his bedroom, and she missed him terribly.
Mamoru took out a stiff, black tuxedo from his closet and laid it upon his bed, gazing at the suit approvingly. Its appearance was almost new; to the casual onlooker it could very well pass as such. He hadn't worn it save twice, and both special occasions had coincidentally been with Usagi. A rush of memories from past times flooded his brain–vivid images, sweet words. On their first formal date, she had been so reserved, so innocent that Mamoru had fallen in love with her all over again. They had gone to a restaurant in the heart of Tokyo. As he recalled correctly, the ceiling lights shimmered directly down at her, giving her a luminous glow. He couldn't help but gaze at her the entire time they were there, at his angel...which, he admitted, made her rather uncomfortable. Though in a very, very good way, she had stressed later. He had then decided to try to open up his heart to her as best he could, to trust her completely. There was no reason not to. Over the course of their relationship, she had come to confide in him as well. Her tentative demeanor had vanished, and the real, vibrant Usagi had emerged. His Usako.
Shaking away numerous blissful reminiscences, the young man fingered the smooth material of his tuxedo. Tomorrow was her last full day here, and he would make the most of it for her.
"Mamo-chan?"
"Usako..."
She went into his embrace without another word and together, the couple sank down onto the large mattress.
"What are you thinking about?" Her eyes reflected concern. "You were gone for five minutes. Getting your tux from the closet doesn't take that long."
Mamoru shook his head and smiled reassuringly. "Nothing. Don't worry," he grinned when she continued to pout, briefly kissing the tip of her nose. "And five minutes isn't that long."
"It seemed like an eternity to me," Usagi shrugged playfully, averting her gaze to the tuxedo.
She recognized it instantly, her mouth forming an 'o' from pleasant surprise.
"You wore this on our first date..." She whispered, a hand reaching out to touch it. "I remember thinking how totally gorgeous you looked in it." Blushing for her bluntness, she turned light eyes away from his face.
"You did, ne?" Mamoru teased her, playing along. And promptly received a punch on the arm. She sat up, regarding him truthfully.
"I'm serious, Mamo-chan. Remember the waitress? She obviously agreed with me." The blonde waved her hands in the air when he drew a blank. All he recollected from that night was how beautiful she had looked. He didn't recall any waitress who had apparently, according to Usagi, tried to make a move on him.
"Which?"
"The one who tried to get your number?" When he shook his head, she groaned loudly. "I had to give her a million glares before she finally gave up. And even then she was admiring you from afar. You're sure you don't remember her?"
"Iie. I recall how breathtaking you were though," he said.
Usagi laid down beside him, snuggling into his chest. "Really, Mamo-chan?"
"Really. Usako–"
She pressed a finger to his lips, then kissed him. It was all she could do before her heart burst with happiness.
The blonde's eyes snapped open before unconsciousness drew her in. They had such a long day, and the bed was so inviting...
She bolted straight up. "The water! The–the...oh!" Scrambling from her beloved's embrace, she made the distance to the kitchen at record-breaking speed. To the stove. To the pot of water that had been boiling for an hour, maybe more. She gulped, approaching the pot as if it was one of the countless, hideous youma she had destroyed before. Mamoru didn't have time to register a missing blonde from his arms before her scream resounded down the hallway.
He made it just in time to find his girlfriend kneeling on the ground, hands cradling the pot like it was a child. She wailed and he was instantly reminded of a fourteen-year-old Usagi, losing a round at the video arcade. Mamoru's ears throbbed in painful protest.
"Usako, what's wrong?"
She turned tear-streaked face to his, pointing feverishly at the pot. There was not a drop of water left in the container, and the base had a noticeable black splotch, which certainly hadn't been there before.
"I can't even boil water!" She sniffled, rubbing her eyes. "Mamo-chan, I'm useless! How will I even cook for you if I can't–"
"It's okay, Usako." He hugged her tightly as she hiccuped, mumbling inaudible words into his shoulder. "The pot was old anyway," he lied, when in truth it had been purchased a couple weeks ago. "And it's not your fault. We lost track of time."
"So you're not mad?"
He wiped a tear from her cheek. "Why would I be mad? If you learned something from this experience, then the dish served its worth."
Mamoru helped her up. "Now, why don't you give it another try, and I'll get the meat ready."
"Al–alright."
She smiled shakily before refilling another pot. He made sure to give her an old one, in case any accidents repeated themselves. Her second try turned out to be a success, and Usagi received a kiss from Mamoru for that.
The burnt pot lay discarded and forgotten on the counter.
The sun took on an orangish hue and slowly slid below the horizon, a blazing ball of glory amidst the purple-tinted sky. Normally, the young woman marveled at the spectacle. Today, however, the sunset served a nagging reminder that the day was over. Dinnertime was fast approaching, and the food hadn't been prepared yet. To add onto it, Usagi was beginning to hate cooking more and more.
The last hour had been a total disaster. She had insisted on helping Mamoru season the meat. He owned a pepper grinder, which was very curious to her since everyone she knew used the regular, packaged type from the supermarket, Makoto included. And she was the chef of the group. The blonde was all too willing to grind pepper while Mamoru chopped vegetables. Unfortunately, the result was haphazardly spiced ham slices and a sneezing, coughing, watery-eyed Usagi. She was quite sure some pieces were extremely salty and peppery, the others tasteless. There was no time for her to worry about unevenly seasoned meat as coughing fits racked her body to the point of which she swore she saw stars on the floor.
Her love had instinctively dropped his knife to help his wheezing girlfriend. After twenty minutes, a hundred sneezes or so, and several hard pats on the back from Mamoru later, she was finally ready to move on. Cutting vegetables wasn't that big a feat. She cheerfully decided that she would do all the cutting in the future, and leave Mamoru to do all the hard work...until she cut her finger dicing her last potato. Mamoru again left his station to retrieve the first-aid kit from his bedroom while she bled onto the tile floors. Another delay in 'Operation: Christmas dinner.' He took gentle care into bandaging her wounded finger, then kissing it afterward with a flourish. Usagi couldn't cheer up even as they shared loving kisses. She sat sulking at the table, staring at her cup of juice uninterestedly. She didn't even like orange juice that much.
"Mamo-chan, I hate cooking!"
He placed the tray of tenderized meat into the oven and set the degree to four hundred before sitting down beside her around the dinner table.
"I figured that much. You're in luck, my beloved," he answered, "because I enjoy cooking."
"But I don't want you to have to do everything when we're..."
She sighed, turning her face away.
"When we're married?"
"Yeah," she said quietly. "But why would you want to marry me if I can't do anything right?"
He stared at her long and hard, this tiny person who owned his heart since the day they exchanged insults beside Naru's mother's jewelry store. This warrior who faced so many obstacles, so much heartbreak in her sixteen years. This young woman who had to make so many choices, who gave up so much so the Earth continued to spin.
"Why would I not want to marry the girl who is everything to me? Who saved me, countless times? Who I rely on for strength, for my light against the darkness? Who possesses so much innocence and beauty...Usako, you're the one."
She couldn't find anything to reply back that wouldn't sound pathetic compared to his confession. Instead, she started into his soulful eyes, conveying all her love to him in that one gaze. His lips crushed her own, and Usagi's mind went blank. There was only her Mamo-chan, and the feel of his lips against hers.
The ham roasting in the oven could wait.
"And I want a chocolate cake that touches the ceiling."
He brushed tendrils of hair from her wide eyes.
"Whatever makes you happy, Beloved."
"And invite everyone." She paused, then added, "Even Dad."
Mamoru smiled at her playful tone. She hadn't really considered leaving her father off the invitation list. But over the course of their relationship, Kenji was, by far, the most avid supporter of the 'keep Mamoru away from Usagi' efforts. So much that the overprotective father once bluntly informed the young man that he had a loaded gun under his possession...and wasn't afraid to use it either. "If the situation calls for it," were his exact words. Mamoru had made a sound somewhere between a nervous laugh and a gulp upon seeing the dead serious look marring the older man's features. That had occurred on their first date. Since the incident, Mamoru was more than tentative when taking Usagi out for any occasion. And each time, he could see Kenji's prying eyes from his bedroom window of the two-story house. It was enough to make him reluctant to kiss Usagi goodbye--almost.
Ikuko, at least, understood. Most of the time, she was supportive of their romance. As long as her daughter was happy, she would be happy for her. Mamoru wished Kenji had the same perspective.
After realizing that his attempts to weaken the star-crossed couple proved worthless, he had grudgingly accepted the college student as Usagi's boyfriend and his prospective son-in-law. These last few months, he had progressed with his tolerance, almost become civil. He even cracked a forced smile once in awhile. Ikuko's voice of reasoning had worked wonders on him.
"Hey, say something."
Her soft fingers lay themselves upon his right cheek, caressing it gently. He instantly snapped from his musings.
"Hmm?"
"Chocolate cake alright with you?"
She patiently repeated her question.
"Sure."
After many reassurances that yes, he still wanted to marry her, and yes, he would wait forever for her, Usagi was willing to share all her plans for the wedding. "You sure have put a lot of thought into it," he had commented, rather pleased. Usagi admitted he was right. More and more with each passing day...
The aroma of ham reached her sensitive nostrils, pulling her awake before the warm blanket of unconsciousness could cover her the second time that day. It smelled...delectable. She closed her eyes, seeking more of her 'pillow,' which so happened to be Mamoru's shoulder. 'Christmas dinner's going to be a success, even with the mishaps,' she thought. Her eyes opened after a minute, testing the air again with her nose. Something wasn't right...
The blonde nudged Mamoru.
"Mamo-chan, wake up."
Her response was a slurry "Usako?" before promptly falling asleep again. He looked so innocent and adorable sleeping, bangs falling over his eyelids, like an exhausted child after a long day of play. She didn't want to wake him up, but there was no choice. Usagi poked him this time. 'If he doesn't open his eyes,' she decided, 'I'll have to resort to tickling.' Sleep-filled eyes focused on a frowning Usagi. She had been looking forward to tickling him too.
"Nani?"
"What's what smell?"
He detected the air carefully, the smell of roasting meat awakening his hunger. "It's the ham, Usako. Give it another half-hour, then we can eat."
"Oh."
She gave another insistent poke. A bit irritated, he looked at her quizzically. "Mamo-chan?"
"Hmm?"
"Then why does it smell like it's burning?"
Ten minutes later, Usagi leaned against the counter's edge, barely stifling her giggles. Mamoru scowled darkly at the floor. He found the situation to be anything except amusing.
"I told you it was burning," she admonished before bursting with bouts of laughter. The ham, now darkened to a pitch black color, lay pathetically atop the stove. Mamoru didn't believe Usagi when she said she smelled something burning. He took his time making his way to the oven and used five minutes searching for an old rag to pick up the dish with. "There's nothing wrong!" he had persisted, opening the oven just to prove his girlfriend wrong. Thick smoke stormed out so fast he didn't have time to take cover. He had shot back, landing onto the floor and into a coughing fit, eyes stinging. So went their dinner.
His stomach protested with a deep growl. He groaned. They were dinner-less. On Christmas. Half-starved. Mamoru suddenly saw the humor he had missed before. He began to chuckle as Usagi continued laughing until tears sprang from their eyes and their stomachs ached...from both lack of food and laughing too hard.
"I think there's a few frozen dinners in here," he grinned, wiping any last remnants of tears from his cheeks. Usagi matched his smile with one that was ten times brighter.
"Sounds good to me," she answered, taking out a glass from the upper cabinet for Mamoru. "Why don't you leave me to heat our food?"
"Usako, I don't know..."
"Please? It's the one thing I know how to do."
Usagi was true to her word; the dinners, or rather, Ron's dinners, as Mamoru admitted while they ate, were as good as frozen meals could be.
"Do you think Ron will mind us eating his food?"
"I'll buy him some the next time I go shopping," he replied. Nodding, she chewed on her piece of turkey breast, then took a sip of juice.
"Mamo-chan?"
"Hai?"
"I'm sorry our Christmas didn't turn out the way it was supposed to. I wanted to make it perfect..."
He laid down the fork, taking her hand in his.
"It was perfect. With you here..."
A thoughtful silence passed.
"I can't believe I'm leaving after tomorrow," she sighed. Through the absolute chaos of an afternoon, Usagi had shoved aside the pain of returning to Japan, pushed back the bothersome voice in her head that reminded her of the issues they had left unresolved from yesterday. Now, it slammed back full force, leaving her feeling empty.
"I know," he agreed. The young man stared down into his food and played with a kernel of corn, suddenly losing his appetite. "What do you want to do then? Before the party, I mean. It's your day."
A playful glint sparkled in blonde's eyes, eclipsing the sadness that was evident before.
"Oh, I'm sure we can think of something."
********************
Okay...^^;;...did I mention I *suck* at comedy? *laughs nervously* Well, the upside is that this chapter is the longest for "AITS!" And...um...there was mush. *cough* I'm not overly proud of this chapter. But...I guess I'll leave it up to you, my faithful readers, to decide if this chapter was likable or utterly horrible. Please take a second of your time to *review,* or if you want me to personally e-mail back, send me an e-mail at LisaZUMstories@aol.com or Lisafics@sailormoon.com. The more feedback I get, the more I will think someone is actually reading, and thus faster updates. ^_^ I have the next chapter planned for...mid-October/early Novemberish, so be on the lookout if you still want to read. As always, thanks for reading!
This story written and posted September 2003.
Author: Lisa
Chapter: 6
Rating: G
Website: hometown.aol.com/lisazumstories
Author's Notes:
Wow...another chapter. For some strange reason, this is the only story I can concentrate on writing now. I am hoping to complete this by Christmas, as I have another *long* fanfic I have already started to work on. So, enjoy, and please review/e-mail! If you want to chat, feel free to e-mail/AIM! Arigato to moonlight8, Ellen, Usako4life (hey you! *grin*), Silver Running Water, Akimura, Wolfblaze, samsonite, Moon-Princess13, and Carla Fox for reviewing my last chapter! ^_^ A special thank you goes to White Eternity and mae for following this story for such a long time (since chapter 3). Updates to this story take *forever,* but I can count on you two to be there to read them!
Disclaimers: Sailor Moon and the others don't belong to me, but this story does.
***************
Usagi stood bent over the kitchen counter, one of Mamoru's Japanese cooking manuals at hand, left brow scrunched in utter confusion. It was as if the instructions were in English, or...some other foreign language she had no patience nor any intention on learning. Frustrated, she slapped it down firmly with a loud smack. Sighing, she briefed an overtired look at the food strewn about the small area. Various meats, vegetables, and spices littered literally every inch of the place. Luckily, Mamoru had already done the grocery shopping prior to her arrival, as not a single store was open today. She was pleased to find the refrigerator stocked upon its opening. Not the case anymore.
'Maybe I should've actually tried learning from Mako-chan's lessons instead of just eating,' she thought bitterly. The young woman had told Mamoru that Makoto was helping her learn to cook...which was relatively true. She had indeed been going over to her house during weekends; long afternoon hours of slaving away at reading Rei's old manga whilst Makoto attempted to debrief her on the art of cooking. The blonde had conveniently left out the part where her duties as student consisted of mostly eating...once Makoto had promised to never again instruct Usagi (which she conveniently forgot every Saturday), and made everything by herself. The food tasted better that way.
Somehow, Christmas dinner did not have the same appeal it did some hours ago, when she actually was looking forward to show off her cooking skills. That was, if she had any to begin with. In all honesty, the extent of her cooking resembled warming prepackaged food, or reheating leftovers. She picked up the directions for the fourth time, fanning it in front of her face. Usagi suddenly had newfound appreciation for her mother Ikuko, who had to constantly slave away in the kitchen. At least the afternoon had its worth. How could she stand it?
Pouting, the blonde made her way toward Mamoru, who grinned widely in reply, silently marveling at the way her full lips pursed when she made the gesture. He gave her a quick peck on the forehead before taking a seat on the couch, thick book in hand.
"Give up yet, Usako?"
He received a responding glare. "How can you even ask that?" she said, as if that was the last thing on her mind, "of course not!" With a loud huff and a mumbled sentence about how unsupportive he was, she raised her head high in mock irritation and marched loudly into the kitchen once again. Mamoru chuckled, flipping to the first chapter in one swift motion. Staring blankly at the small print, he found it excruciatingly hard to read his favorite novel with Usagi being only feet away. After all, his beloved girlfriend and future wife remained much more intriguing than a book he had read one time too many. He could read it anytime. Throwing the book carelessly on the coffee table that elicited a small thud as it landed, he soon joined her in her futile escapades, though proving to be more of a distraction than anything. He planted small, brisk kisses along Usagi's neckline, taking his time to tease her burning skin until she drew in a shuddering breath, melting like snow into his arms.
"Mamo-chan..." She nearly whined in weak protest, palms pushing him away, regardless how substantially her heart protested otherwise. "This isn't helping! At this rate, we won't be having any dinner." Usagi turned around, smacking him lightly on the arm. Bright blue eyes gazed lovingly into his own. Mamoru discovered he had trouble breathing. After all this time, she could still take his breath away...unintentionally, of course.
"Will you help me, Mamo-chan?"
"Hai, of course I will," he managed after resuming his capability to speak. Glancing at all the materials scattered about, he inquired, "What do you need help with?"
She hesitated momentarily, contemplating before shoving the entire fifty page guide into his large hands.
"How about you read me the instructions, and make sure I'm doing them right?"
The dark-haired man agreed with a vigorous nod. What a perfect opportunity to ensure Usagi wouldn't burn down his apartment! She beamed at him, standing on tiptoe to steal a kiss, a reward for her dedication to making the dinner.
"First, let's see if you can boil water properly."
Usagi's lips stopped centimeters away from their destination and looked at him as if he were crazy. "What for? Anyone can boil water!" She was insulted at the assumption. 'I may be impaired when it comes to actual cooking, but heating water?'
He cringed at her accusing tone and raised a hand in submission. "Just to make sure," he replied guiltily. "I'm not doubting your ability to heat water, really. Besides, we need it for later use."
Mamoru was too much to resist; Usagi could, in no earthly way possible, stay mad at him for more than thirty seconds. He could always find a way to justify his every action, and more than make up for his offense afterward. Mamoru was just perfect like that. She nodded, only exaggerated her sigh to show her discontent.
"Fine," she grumped.
"That's my girl."
"You better believe it. If I weren't your girl, I wouldn't be doing this right now," she grumbled. His short laugh was like music to her ears. He seldom laughed, to her dismay, so she constantly tried to get him to do so. This past week had definitely been a success.
"Of course. While you're doing so, let me go and find my tuxedo for tomorrow night's party." The dark-haired student reluctantly let his possessive grip on Usagi's slender waist drop. She trembled slightly at the loss of contact, a whimper forming in her throat which she suppressed. 'He's just leaving for a second,' she scolded herself. 'It's not like you can't live without seeing him for two minutes...' The argument wasn't as strong or decisive as she'd preferred, but she dropped the matter. Right now, she had a mission to accomplish. She would show her boyfriend that, although her cooking abilities were limited, she could at least boil water.
Usagi filled a pot halfway from the sink and placed it gently upon the spotless stove. 'Leave it to Mamo-chan to own streak-free kitchen appliances,' she mused dryly. 'That could be worked to my advantage in the future.'
"There!" A triumphant smile lifted the corners of her mouth as she bent over, waiting for air bubbles to form at the base of the container. A minute passed. Two minutes passed. She felt the side of the container with a cautious fingertip and found it not a tad bit warm. What had gone wrong? Glancing at the stove, the blonde realized that she had forgotten to ever turn it on. She flushed beet red, suddenly relieved her love was not there to witness her embarrassment. He would laugh for sure and where would that leave her? Twirling the small black knob to high, she gave a satisfied nod and skipped out of the kitchen. Mamoru wasn't back yet from the trip to his bedroom, and she missed him terribly.
Mamoru took out a stiff, black tuxedo from his closet and laid it upon his bed, gazing at the suit approvingly. Its appearance was almost new; to the casual onlooker it could very well pass as such. He hadn't worn it save twice, and both special occasions had coincidentally been with Usagi. A rush of memories from past times flooded his brain–vivid images, sweet words. On their first formal date, she had been so reserved, so innocent that Mamoru had fallen in love with her all over again. They had gone to a restaurant in the heart of Tokyo. As he recalled correctly, the ceiling lights shimmered directly down at her, giving her a luminous glow. He couldn't help but gaze at her the entire time they were there, at his angel...which, he admitted, made her rather uncomfortable. Though in a very, very good way, she had stressed later. He had then decided to try to open up his heart to her as best he could, to trust her completely. There was no reason not to. Over the course of their relationship, she had come to confide in him as well. Her tentative demeanor had vanished, and the real, vibrant Usagi had emerged. His Usako.
Shaking away numerous blissful reminiscences, the young man fingered the smooth material of his tuxedo. Tomorrow was her last full day here, and he would make the most of it for her.
"Mamo-chan?"
"Usako..."
She went into his embrace without another word and together, the couple sank down onto the large mattress.
"What are you thinking about?" Her eyes reflected concern. "You were gone for five minutes. Getting your tux from the closet doesn't take that long."
Mamoru shook his head and smiled reassuringly. "Nothing. Don't worry," he grinned when she continued to pout, briefly kissing the tip of her nose. "And five minutes isn't that long."
"It seemed like an eternity to me," Usagi shrugged playfully, averting her gaze to the tuxedo.
She recognized it instantly, her mouth forming an 'o' from pleasant surprise.
"You wore this on our first date..." She whispered, a hand reaching out to touch it. "I remember thinking how totally gorgeous you looked in it." Blushing for her bluntness, she turned light eyes away from his face.
"You did, ne?" Mamoru teased her, playing along. And promptly received a punch on the arm. She sat up, regarding him truthfully.
"I'm serious, Mamo-chan. Remember the waitress? She obviously agreed with me." The blonde waved her hands in the air when he drew a blank. All he recollected from that night was how beautiful she had looked. He didn't recall any waitress who had apparently, according to Usagi, tried to make a move on him.
"Which?"
"The one who tried to get your number?" When he shook his head, she groaned loudly. "I had to give her a million glares before she finally gave up. And even then she was admiring you from afar. You're sure you don't remember her?"
"Iie. I recall how breathtaking you were though," he said.
Usagi laid down beside him, snuggling into his chest. "Really, Mamo-chan?"
"Really. Usako–"
She pressed a finger to his lips, then kissed him. It was all she could do before her heart burst with happiness.
The blonde's eyes snapped open before unconsciousness drew her in. They had such a long day, and the bed was so inviting...
She bolted straight up. "The water! The–the...oh!" Scrambling from her beloved's embrace, she made the distance to the kitchen at record-breaking speed. To the stove. To the pot of water that had been boiling for an hour, maybe more. She gulped, approaching the pot as if it was one of the countless, hideous youma she had destroyed before. Mamoru didn't have time to register a missing blonde from his arms before her scream resounded down the hallway.
He made it just in time to find his girlfriend kneeling on the ground, hands cradling the pot like it was a child. She wailed and he was instantly reminded of a fourteen-year-old Usagi, losing a round at the video arcade. Mamoru's ears throbbed in painful protest.
"Usako, what's wrong?"
She turned tear-streaked face to his, pointing feverishly at the pot. There was not a drop of water left in the container, and the base had a noticeable black splotch, which certainly hadn't been there before.
"I can't even boil water!" She sniffled, rubbing her eyes. "Mamo-chan, I'm useless! How will I even cook for you if I can't–"
"It's okay, Usako." He hugged her tightly as she hiccuped, mumbling inaudible words into his shoulder. "The pot was old anyway," he lied, when in truth it had been purchased a couple weeks ago. "And it's not your fault. We lost track of time."
"So you're not mad?"
He wiped a tear from her cheek. "Why would I be mad? If you learned something from this experience, then the dish served its worth."
Mamoru helped her up. "Now, why don't you give it another try, and I'll get the meat ready."
"Al–alright."
She smiled shakily before refilling another pot. He made sure to give her an old one, in case any accidents repeated themselves. Her second try turned out to be a success, and Usagi received a kiss from Mamoru for that.
The burnt pot lay discarded and forgotten on the counter.
The sun took on an orangish hue and slowly slid below the horizon, a blazing ball of glory amidst the purple-tinted sky. Normally, the young woman marveled at the spectacle. Today, however, the sunset served a nagging reminder that the day was over. Dinnertime was fast approaching, and the food hadn't been prepared yet. To add onto it, Usagi was beginning to hate cooking more and more.
The last hour had been a total disaster. She had insisted on helping Mamoru season the meat. He owned a pepper grinder, which was very curious to her since everyone she knew used the regular, packaged type from the supermarket, Makoto included. And she was the chef of the group. The blonde was all too willing to grind pepper while Mamoru chopped vegetables. Unfortunately, the result was haphazardly spiced ham slices and a sneezing, coughing, watery-eyed Usagi. She was quite sure some pieces were extremely salty and peppery, the others tasteless. There was no time for her to worry about unevenly seasoned meat as coughing fits racked her body to the point of which she swore she saw stars on the floor.
Her love had instinctively dropped his knife to help his wheezing girlfriend. After twenty minutes, a hundred sneezes or so, and several hard pats on the back from Mamoru later, she was finally ready to move on. Cutting vegetables wasn't that big a feat. She cheerfully decided that she would do all the cutting in the future, and leave Mamoru to do all the hard work...until she cut her finger dicing her last potato. Mamoru again left his station to retrieve the first-aid kit from his bedroom while she bled onto the tile floors. Another delay in 'Operation: Christmas dinner.' He took gentle care into bandaging her wounded finger, then kissing it afterward with a flourish. Usagi couldn't cheer up even as they shared loving kisses. She sat sulking at the table, staring at her cup of juice uninterestedly. She didn't even like orange juice that much.
"Mamo-chan, I hate cooking!"
He placed the tray of tenderized meat into the oven and set the degree to four hundred before sitting down beside her around the dinner table.
"I figured that much. You're in luck, my beloved," he answered, "because I enjoy cooking."
"But I don't want you to have to do everything when we're..."
She sighed, turning her face away.
"When we're married?"
"Yeah," she said quietly. "But why would you want to marry me if I can't do anything right?"
He stared at her long and hard, this tiny person who owned his heart since the day they exchanged insults beside Naru's mother's jewelry store. This warrior who faced so many obstacles, so much heartbreak in her sixteen years. This young woman who had to make so many choices, who gave up so much so the Earth continued to spin.
"Why would I not want to marry the girl who is everything to me? Who saved me, countless times? Who I rely on for strength, for my light against the darkness? Who possesses so much innocence and beauty...Usako, you're the one."
She couldn't find anything to reply back that wouldn't sound pathetic compared to his confession. Instead, she started into his soulful eyes, conveying all her love to him in that one gaze. His lips crushed her own, and Usagi's mind went blank. There was only her Mamo-chan, and the feel of his lips against hers.
The ham roasting in the oven could wait.
"And I want a chocolate cake that touches the ceiling."
He brushed tendrils of hair from her wide eyes.
"Whatever makes you happy, Beloved."
"And invite everyone." She paused, then added, "Even Dad."
Mamoru smiled at her playful tone. She hadn't really considered leaving her father off the invitation list. But over the course of their relationship, Kenji was, by far, the most avid supporter of the 'keep Mamoru away from Usagi' efforts. So much that the overprotective father once bluntly informed the young man that he had a loaded gun under his possession...and wasn't afraid to use it either. "If the situation calls for it," were his exact words. Mamoru had made a sound somewhere between a nervous laugh and a gulp upon seeing the dead serious look marring the older man's features. That had occurred on their first date. Since the incident, Mamoru was more than tentative when taking Usagi out for any occasion. And each time, he could see Kenji's prying eyes from his bedroom window of the two-story house. It was enough to make him reluctant to kiss Usagi goodbye--almost.
Ikuko, at least, understood. Most of the time, she was supportive of their romance. As long as her daughter was happy, she would be happy for her. Mamoru wished Kenji had the same perspective.
After realizing that his attempts to weaken the star-crossed couple proved worthless, he had grudgingly accepted the college student as Usagi's boyfriend and his prospective son-in-law. These last few months, he had progressed with his tolerance, almost become civil. He even cracked a forced smile once in awhile. Ikuko's voice of reasoning had worked wonders on him.
"Hey, say something."
Her soft fingers lay themselves upon his right cheek, caressing it gently. He instantly snapped from his musings.
"Hmm?"
"Chocolate cake alright with you?"
She patiently repeated her question.
"Sure."
After many reassurances that yes, he still wanted to marry her, and yes, he would wait forever for her, Usagi was willing to share all her plans for the wedding. "You sure have put a lot of thought into it," he had commented, rather pleased. Usagi admitted he was right. More and more with each passing day...
The aroma of ham reached her sensitive nostrils, pulling her awake before the warm blanket of unconsciousness could cover her the second time that day. It smelled...delectable. She closed her eyes, seeking more of her 'pillow,' which so happened to be Mamoru's shoulder. 'Christmas dinner's going to be a success, even with the mishaps,' she thought. Her eyes opened after a minute, testing the air again with her nose. Something wasn't right...
The blonde nudged Mamoru.
"Mamo-chan, wake up."
Her response was a slurry "Usako?" before promptly falling asleep again. He looked so innocent and adorable sleeping, bangs falling over his eyelids, like an exhausted child after a long day of play. She didn't want to wake him up, but there was no choice. Usagi poked him this time. 'If he doesn't open his eyes,' she decided, 'I'll have to resort to tickling.' Sleep-filled eyes focused on a frowning Usagi. She had been looking forward to tickling him too.
"Nani?"
"What's what smell?"
He detected the air carefully, the smell of roasting meat awakening his hunger. "It's the ham, Usako. Give it another half-hour, then we can eat."
"Oh."
She gave another insistent poke. A bit irritated, he looked at her quizzically. "Mamo-chan?"
"Hmm?"
"Then why does it smell like it's burning?"
Ten minutes later, Usagi leaned against the counter's edge, barely stifling her giggles. Mamoru scowled darkly at the floor. He found the situation to be anything except amusing.
"I told you it was burning," she admonished before bursting with bouts of laughter. The ham, now darkened to a pitch black color, lay pathetically atop the stove. Mamoru didn't believe Usagi when she said she smelled something burning. He took his time making his way to the oven and used five minutes searching for an old rag to pick up the dish with. "There's nothing wrong!" he had persisted, opening the oven just to prove his girlfriend wrong. Thick smoke stormed out so fast he didn't have time to take cover. He had shot back, landing onto the floor and into a coughing fit, eyes stinging. So went their dinner.
His stomach protested with a deep growl. He groaned. They were dinner-less. On Christmas. Half-starved. Mamoru suddenly saw the humor he had missed before. He began to chuckle as Usagi continued laughing until tears sprang from their eyes and their stomachs ached...from both lack of food and laughing too hard.
"I think there's a few frozen dinners in here," he grinned, wiping any last remnants of tears from his cheeks. Usagi matched his smile with one that was ten times brighter.
"Sounds good to me," she answered, taking out a glass from the upper cabinet for Mamoru. "Why don't you leave me to heat our food?"
"Usako, I don't know..."
"Please? It's the one thing I know how to do."
Usagi was true to her word; the dinners, or rather, Ron's dinners, as Mamoru admitted while they ate, were as good as frozen meals could be.
"Do you think Ron will mind us eating his food?"
"I'll buy him some the next time I go shopping," he replied. Nodding, she chewed on her piece of turkey breast, then took a sip of juice.
"Mamo-chan?"
"Hai?"
"I'm sorry our Christmas didn't turn out the way it was supposed to. I wanted to make it perfect..."
He laid down the fork, taking her hand in his.
"It was perfect. With you here..."
A thoughtful silence passed.
"I can't believe I'm leaving after tomorrow," she sighed. Through the absolute chaos of an afternoon, Usagi had shoved aside the pain of returning to Japan, pushed back the bothersome voice in her head that reminded her of the issues they had left unresolved from yesterday. Now, it slammed back full force, leaving her feeling empty.
"I know," he agreed. The young man stared down into his food and played with a kernel of corn, suddenly losing his appetite. "What do you want to do then? Before the party, I mean. It's your day."
A playful glint sparkled in blonde's eyes, eclipsing the sadness that was evident before.
"Oh, I'm sure we can think of something."
********************
Okay...^^;;...did I mention I *suck* at comedy? *laughs nervously* Well, the upside is that this chapter is the longest for "AITS!" And...um...there was mush. *cough* I'm not overly proud of this chapter. But...I guess I'll leave it up to you, my faithful readers, to decide if this chapter was likable or utterly horrible. Please take a second of your time to *review,* or if you want me to personally e-mail back, send me an e-mail at LisaZUMstories@aol.com or Lisafics@sailormoon.com. The more feedback I get, the more I will think someone is actually reading, and thus faster updates. ^_^ I have the next chapter planned for...mid-October/early Novemberish, so be on the lookout if you still want to read. As always, thanks for reading!
This story written and posted September 2003.