Hi guys!
I want to thank all my lovely reviewers for their reviews and encouragement! I couldn't have continued without you. ;)
This is the second of "The Day after Valentine's" so enjoy and don't forget to drop me a line when you have finished!
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any of the characters:(
The Day after Valentine's
Part 2
Usagi and Mamoru jumped apart as the crash was heard. They both blushed as guilty children caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Mamoru cursed silently at himself for letting it get so far but his eyes softened as he looked at the nervous girl before him. He felt tempted to do it again and this time fulfilling it as well but a high-pitched male voice sounded throughout the garden.
"How could you Usagi?" the voice cried wailing as the owner stepped forward. Usagi just stared before biting her lip to stop the anger from pouring forth.
"What are you doing here Umino?" she asked angrily. "Were you following me again?"
Umino stepped back under Usagi's angry glare and gulped while Mamoru looked on with amusement even though he was confused. 'Who is this guy?' he asked himself silently. The boy's next words caught his attention.
"But I love you Usagi!" Umino cried as Usagi winced. "I came to surprise you and instead I find you almost kissing that man!" he yelled and pointed an accusing finger at Mamoru.
"Umino! Don't you understand what "Leave me alone!" means?" Usagi shrieked.
"You don't mean that Usagi! I know that you're just playing hard to get just so I love you more but I already love you so much! You don't have to be shy!" Umino declared dramatically as he leaned towards Usagi and puckered his lips.
Mamoru continued to look at Umino before his brain registered the fact that another boy was trying to kiss his Usako! He didn't even realise what he had just thought as he quickly pulled Usagi into his embrace and shielded her from Umino.
Usagi had just stood like paralysed as she watched in horror how Umino leaned forward when suddenly a hand grabbed her arm and pulled her away from him. She found herself enveloped in Mamoru's strong arms as his warmth engulfed her. Usagi savoured the feeling before she remembered that it was Mamoru who was holding her. She looked up and saw Mamoru's clenched jaw as he looked at the Umino furiously. Mamoru's body stood in a protective stance and yet he still held her so gently. In that moment Usagi knew how it felt to be protected and cared for.
Umino seemed to shrink before his very gaze as Mamoru towered above him. "Um... what do you think you're doing?" Umino asked uncertainly.
"I'm protecting her from you." Mamoru said as he glared at him. "I mean this in the nicest possible when I say: Stay away from her or else you'll live to regret in." Mamoru said quietly.
Umino paled considerably before scuttling off like a scared rabbit causing Usagi to giggle despite feeling slightly sorry for him. The sound of her giggle caused Mamoru to look at her.
"What's so funny?" he asked with a quirked eyebrow that made Usagi giggle even more.
"It's just that this situation is so bizarre." Usagi said when her laughter subsided. "Honestly Mamoru, no offence but if someone had told me last week that you would be saving me from Umino and threatening him then I would probably have thought that he had been out in the sun for too long."
Mamoru thought it over before grinning. "Ah, well, things can change you know." He said before winking at her.
Neither one of them noticed their position. It felt so normal to be in each other's arms like that. They didn't discover their position until an old lady with her husband passed them by smiling as she said: "You two look so perfect together."
They both blushed and jumped apart causing the lady to laugh. She turned to her husband and looked at him affectionately. "They remind me of you and I when we were young. They will also live happily together, just like you and I." she said. Her companion saw how the young couple turned red and couldn't help but chuckle. "I'm sure you're right my dear." he said soothingly.
Both Mamoru and Usagi blushed at the woman's words as silence reigned in the park.
"I'd better get home before it gets later." Usagi finally said.
'She's leaving already?' Mamoru thought with disappointment though he didn't let it show. "Sure, you're right. I'll walk with you," he said hoping that she would accept.
Usagi looked at him in surprise. "You don't have to if you don't want to," she whispered.
Mamoru smiled gently at her. "I would love to walk you home." he said and meant it.
They walked to Usagi while chatting about unimportant stuff and just enjoying each other's company. The time seemed to fly away and the walk ended too soon for both of them. An awkward silence ascended again as they stood before Usagi's home.
"Do you want to go for a walk tomorrow after school?" Mamoru suddenly asked out of nowhere. He wasn't sure what he was doing he only knew that he didn't want to stop seeing her.
Usagi's smile gave him all the reassurance he needed. "I would love that."
Mamoru smiled again. He couldn't remember the last time when he had smiled so much in one day and truly meant it as well. "Great! How about we meet in the park 3 pm?"
"I think 4 pm would be better."
"Why?" Mamoru asked confused.
Usagi giggled. "Because of detention silly!"
"Oh." Mamoru shrugged his shoulders before nodding. "4 pm then?"
"4 pm" Usagi said in affirmative.
They parted both filled with the promise of what the next day would bring.
The next morning-
"Waaahh! I'm going to be late!" was heard throughout the Tsukino household. Usagi rushed out of the door in the same way she had done the last few years causing both of her parents to sigh and shake their heads.
'Ms Haruna is going to kill me!' Usagi thought as she charged forward. Her procession forward was stopped as she bumped into someone. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to..." She was stopped by the sound of chuckling.
"This is beginning to be a habit huh Meatball Head?" Mamoru asked laughing. Usagi was just about to get angry at him for that hated nickname when she noticed that there was no malice in his voice just a gentle teasing hint. She looked at him and saw the fondness in his eyes. The response was cut off as she remembered that she was late for school.
"Look what you did Mamoru! You made me even later!" She yelled but Mamoru knew that she was just joking.
"See you at 4 pm Meatball Head!" He yelled as he watched her disappear in a cloud of dust. Mamoru shook his head and laughed at her quaint ways. He entered the arcade in a better mood than he had ever been in.
"Hey Mamoru! The usual?" Motoki asked when he saw his best friend.
"No, I think I'll take a sundae instead." Mamoru said. 'I want to taste the stuff that Usako eats everyday.' He was so lost in his own thoughts that he didn't even notice Motoki staring at him.
"You want a sundae?" Motoki asked in disbelief. 'When did he start ordering that?'
"Is that a crime?" Mamoru asked amused.
"No, no, of course not. It's just that you've never ordered a sundae before," Motoki stammered.
Mamoru chuckled. "It's a long story. Get me that sundae will you?"
Motoki got him the sundae while trying to get his brain working after the shock he had just received. When did Mamoru start ordering anything else then coffee?
His evident disbelief didn't go unnoticed by Mamoru who couldn't help but laugh at him. 'Poor Motoki,' he thought. 'Wonder how he'll react when he finds out that Usako and I have become friends.' Judging by his strong reaction to Mamoru ordering a sundae, Mamoru smiled mischievously as he imagined the scenario. 'I wonder if I can run by home and bring my camera with me, just in case.'
"What are you smiling at?" Motoki asked suspiciously. He had seen Mamoru so happy and, even though he was glad for his sake, he still felt a little freaked out.
Mamoru smiled innocently. "What are you talking about?"
Motoki gave him a weird look. "Are you sick or something? I can call the ambulance if you want to."
Mamoru laughed outright at that causing Motoki even more wonder. "I'm just fine Motoki. In fact, I have never felt so good before. See you later!" He said as he left the arcade leaving a very confused Motoki behind him.
4 pm. –
Mamoru stood in the park patiently waiting for his Odango. He smiled as he saw her running form coming towards him. "Hi Odango!" he greeted her.
Usagi pouted at the nickname even though she didn't mind it half as much now. "Hi to you too jerk!"
Mamoru grinned at her. "Only to you darling."
Usagi rolled her eyes although they also betrayed her amusement. "Don't I feel special," She retorted.
They continued on with their friendly bantering as they walked through the park and thoroughly enjoyed each other's company. They found out different things about each other and discovered a lot that they had in common. Usagi giggled as Mamoru described Motoki's reaction when he had ordered a sundae. They both schemed unashamedly how to break the news to Motoki and the girls.
The hours flew by and the sky tried to keep from darkening so to give the couple a little more time but was soon forced to darken. The sun gave way to the moon that beamed with just as much force on the pair.
Usagi and Mamoru looked up in surprise when they noticed the change. They glanced at each other in longing knowing that the evening was at its end. Why did time have to pass so quickly?
The day before Valentine's-
Mamoru lay sprawled on his sofa with Usagi lying beside him. He sighed with contentment and a smile tugged at his lips as he recalled their water fight. Usagi was quick, he would give her that, but it had ended with him diving into the lake, with her in his arms. They had laughed all the way to his apartment where she had changed into some of his clothes.
Exhausted with all the exercise they had flopped back on the sofa and just talked until Usagi fell asleep. Mamoru looked at the sleeping girl in his arms and felt so much tenderness he was afraid it would drown him. She was so beautiful, inside and out.
These last four days had been the happiest in his entire life. They had spent most time together teasing, playing, talking and just enjoying each other's company. He had even helped her with her homework and had been surprised at how smart she really was.
Usagi still didn't like school but seeing how important it was to Mamoru she had concentrated harder and discussed various subjects with him. Her seriousness and depth just made Mamoru fall in love even more. She was perfection itself in Mamoru's eyes. That he meant so much to her so that she actually did things that she didn't really like made Mamoru feel all warm and giddy.
He had told her about his parents yesterday and her compassion and understanding tore down the rest of his walls and he fell crying into her arms. She had soothed him and comforted him but he knew that she didn't pity him like the others did. He didn't regret his confession, he actually glad knowing that there weren't any more secrets between him and his angel.
He glanced down at her once again and marvelled at her smooth skin, long eyelashes and soft pouting lips. His eyes stopped at her lips and his eyes darkened. What would she taste like? They hadn't kissed but there had been a few awkward moments.
He sighed. He knew that Usagi never had been kissed and he wasn't about to take her first kiss just like that. He wanted to take her somewhere romantic and tell her how much he loved her before kissing her, but would she let him? Would she reject him? His heart turned cold at the mere thought.
Usagi's eyes fluttered open as if sensing his emotions. "Mamoru?" she asked looking at his frown. "What's the matter?"
Mamoru started before smiling reassuringly at her. "Nothing, I was just wondering what you're doing tomorrow."
Usagi laughed. "Is that all? Let me think." She thought before sighing causing Mamoru to look at her with worry.
Now it was his turn to ask her. "What's the matter?"
Usagi made a face before snuggling into his arms. "Don't even remind me," she said in a muffled voice. "Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and I still don't have someone to spend it with."
Mamoru chuckled at her antics. "Why don't we spend it together then since I don't have anyone either," he asked praying that she would say yes.
"Sure! I would love that!" Usagi said happily before laying down her head again. The sound of his heartbeat relaxed her. 'I wish it could always be like that,' she thought drowsily.
This was supposed to be a two-parter but I had to choose between getting this published today or making you guys waiting a few more days. I swear that I only have one part left to write and it's going to be the best part:P
What will happen on the most romantic day of the year? Who will win the bet?
Send your comments and guesses to me! So REVIEW, REVIEW and REVIEW!
I'll try to update "Rivals" as well next week and I've got a new story on its way. The title will be "Underneath the surface". How does that sound? Usagi and Mamoru will of course star in it. : D
I've changed the "sundae" mistake. Sorry! But we don't have sundaes in my country. I live in a boring and safe country with no arcades! Can you believe that!
Till next time then!
Cathy Daine
