And now for something completely different...

The Disclaimer!

Sailor Moon is not mine. The Blue Moon Cafe and Tanaka Mari (a.k.a. the woman in the blue dress) who works there are mine. Ami's telescope is mine too, but I'm letting her borrow it for the fic.

Oh, fair warning: this chapter turned out kinda long...and definitely contains 100 of your Recommended Daily Allowance of WAFF. (Percentages based on a 2000 calorie diet.)

The Year of the Onion

by Jessyca Thornbrook

5. Once in a Blue Moon

"Tsukino-san! Wake up!"

Usagi's head jerked up from her desk—where it had rested for only a few seconds, she was sure. Although she didn't remember the class having switched from English to math. . . .

"It's not my fault," she grumbled to herself as she stood out in the hall, balancing a bucket of water on her head. "I could hardly sleep last night. Of course I'm tired! I shouldn't even have to be at school today, but Mom's so mean, she wouldn't let me stay home!" She sighed.

I wonder if he's watched it yet? Mina-chan said she gave it to him. . . .what if he doesn't get it? What if he does get it but doesn't like it? What if I'm totally wrong about everything? Her eyes filled with tears, and she was too busy blinking them back to notice someone entering and leaving the classroom door a few feet away.

"Tsukino-san," Haruna's voice suddenly broke into Usagi's thoughts, causing her to jump and spill some of the water down the back of her neck. "You can come back in now. There's been a delivery for you."

Usagi looked up in surprise—fortunately her teacher had the presence of mind to grab the water bucket before it toppled.

"A delivery? For me?"

Haruna nodded, and Usagi could have sworn she looked almost...jealous?

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Dear Princess,

I will be at the Blue Moon Cafe at 4:30 today.

Please come.

-The Ogre

Usagi read the note for the seventeenth time, clutching the giant sunflower that had accompanied it. The Blue Moon Cafe was really the lower floor of a small house that had been converted into a restaurant. The wooden sign over the door had a round, blue moon with a face painted on it. She liked the look of it, cute and cozy. Taking a deep breath, her heart pounding like a jackhammer, she pushed open the door and went inside.

A dark-haired woman in a blue dress looked up as she entered. "Are you Tsukino-san?" she inquired politely.

"Um, yes," answered Usagi, surprised. She glanced around and her heart fell. It was a pretty dining room, decorated with blue and silver moons and stars, but it was empty.

"This way, please," said the woman, motioning toward the back of the restaurant. Usagi followed, a bit confused. The woman led her to a metal spiral staircase, painted in varying shades of blue and purple. Up they went, through the second floor living area, turning four full circles and emerging into what appeared to be a small greenhouse.

Usagi took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the scent of flowers. She wanted to stay there, just breathing in the perfume, but her guide was already exiting through a narrow door. Usagi followed, and gasped as she stepped out onto the roof.

She was still surrounded by flowers: roses, orchids, irises, even a few small flowering trees in pots. At each corner of the roof, small lanterns dangled from decorative poles. In the midst of it all was a small table set for two. Candles glowed in its center, their flames dancing in the soft breeze.

Usagi could only see one problem with the whole beautiful picture.

"The gentleman sends his apologies," said the woman in the blue dress, "but he will be a few minutes late. In the meantime, please, sit and relax. May I bring you something to drink?"

"A chocolate milkshake, please," Usagi replied, mainly out of habit. She wasn't really thirsty or hungry—unusual for her. Her stomach felt strange and fluttery. Half of her wished Mamoru would arrive soon, and the other half was afraid he would.

She sipped absently at her milkshake, staring off into space, her daydreams alternating between wonderful fantasies and humiliating nightmares. She was so deep in one of the former, in fact, that she didn't notice the soft footsteps approaching.

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"Of all the times for him to be late!" sighed Motoki. "I mean, the guy is never late to anything, and he has to change all that now?" His head dropped into his hands.

"Let me see!" said Minako, giving him an impatient shove that sent him sprawling.

"It's my turn, Mina-chan!" Rei cut in, pushing her aside.

"Will you guys stop shoving, before somebody gets knocked off the roof!" Makoto scolded. "Besides, it's my turn!"

"I'm the one who told you girls they would be here!" protested Motoki.

"Well, I'm the one who gave him the tape!" Minako shot back. "And I went all the way to Yokohama with Usagi for that cake!"

"We would have helped if anybody had told us what was going on!" Rei and Makoto glared at the other two.

"It's my telescope," Ami piped up unexpectedly, looking up from her biology textbook. The others gaped at her for a moment, and she blushed.

"That's right," agreed Motoki. "It's Ami-chan's telescope, so she gets first dibs."

"But you have to tell us what's happening! In detail!" ordered Makoto. Before Ami could move, the other girls snatched her book and dragged her forward. She sighed in resignation and squinted through the telescope at the small building across the street.

"What's happening?" squealed Minako.

"Usagi-chan is drinking something."

"Does she look upset?"

"No, she's smiling. Oh, someone else is there now. . ." Ami trailed off, suddenly very intent on the scene unfolding before her.

"Lemme see! Lemme see!" a chorus of voices shrieked.

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Mamoru almost hated to interrupt whatever thoughts had brought that dreamy smile to Usagi's face. He watched her in silence for a few minutes before reluctantly clearing his throat. She immediately snapped out of her reverie, turning those sparkling blue eyes on him. He suddenly found it more difficult to breathe.

"Sorry I'm late. I got held up at school."

"Oh, that's okay," she giggled, "it happens to me all the time!"

Mamoru was quite proud of himself for holding back all the comments that sprang to mind. He sat down in the chair opposite her.

"So. . ." she said, after a pause during which the temperature mysteriously rose several degrees, "this is a really nice place."

"Yeah," he agreed. "The owner is kind of a friend of mine."

"I figured they probably didn't let just anyone eat up here," she said, reaching for a menu. Before she could open it, however, Mamoru's hand caught hers in a gentle grip.

"Usagi-chan," he met her surprised gaze, hoping he didn't look as nervous as he felt, "I think we should talk first. The food here is really great, and I'd rather talk without distractions."

Usagi blushed but smiled. "And you know how I get distracted by good food!" Mamoru smiled back, and a momentary silence fell.

He finally broke it. "So...you think I'm an ogre, huh?"

"Yes. . . no! I mean, sort of. Sometimes," she floundered, feeling her face heat up again. "I mean, it's not like that exactly. I just think you, um—"

"I have layers. Like an onion."

"Yes! You do. I. . . I," she took a deep breath, and plunged in, "I just realized, a while ago, that you weren't who I thought you were. There was more to you than just this guy who got his kicks by being mean to me." Mamoru winced a little, but Usagi was so focused on what she was saying that she didn't notice. "And well, you know, I was watching Shrek and started thinking that maybe you were kind of like that, and that you built walls to keep people out, and. . ." her voice sank almost to a whisper, "I didn't want to be on the outside anymore." She fell silent, staring at the tablecloth with all her might, intensely aware that he was still holding her hand.

Any second now, he'll let go. Any second, he'll tell me that he's not interested, that he only met me here to tell me, because he felt sorry for me. Any second now. . . .

Mamoru knew he had to say something. She was waiting for him to speak. And she looked so. . . defenseless. Like a single word could crush her. He could hurt her now, and none of the jibes and insults he'd given her before could even begin to compare. He had power over her.

But no more than she has over me. . . .

That was what should really scare him. He'd spent his whole life—at least, the part he could remember—keeping everyone away, so that no one could hurt him. The idea that this girl had gotten so far past his defenses should have been the most important and terrifying thing on his mind.

But somehow, it didn't matter at all. Nothing mattered except the expression on her face now, as she slowly raised her eyes to meet his. She was holding her breath—he wasn't sure how he knew that—and she looked as if she were steeling herself against a painful blow. As if she expected him to hurt her. And yet, she had still taken the risk. She was that brave.

I have to be worthy of that! I won't let her down. I can't! I'll tell her how I feel. I'll tell her everything. I'll tell her that. . . I love her. I love her! I'll shout it to the whole world! If I can just get my voice to work!

Usagi stared at Mamoru. He seemed to be trying to say something, but no sound was coming out. Is it so hard for him to say what he feels? Is he worried about hurting me? Or. . . or— She didn't get to complete the thought, because Mamoru finally managed to choke out a sentence. Well, sort of a sentence.

"To hell with this."

He stood up so suddenly that Usagi's brain hadn't even really registered his movement yet as he pulled her to her feet as well. She lost her balance, but he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close before she could start to fall. His other hand released its grip on hers and slipped around the back of her neck. She started to speak, but before her lips could form the first word of her question, he leaned in and covered them with his own.

(If either of them had been capable of noticing anything external at this point, they might have been surprised to hear a familiar voice, distant but still audible, yelling "Touchdown!")

Usagi felt as if her insides were on fire, but her outside was frozen. She couldn't move. She could only stand there (not even under her own power—he was holding her up) as that searing kiss turned her heart and brain and soul to white flames.

After moments, or centuries, Mamoru forced himself to ease off, turning his passion into gentleness, stroking her lips softly and slowly. He realized she hadn't moved since he'd kissed her; she'd gone almost limp in his arms, like a doll. Is she just stunned? Or. . . is she scared? At that thought, he reluctantly pulled away.

And Usagi suddenly found she could move. At the first brush of empty air across her mouth, her arms moved without any help from her brain, wrapping tightly around him, pulling him close again. Her fingers clutched at the back of his neck, sliding into his hair and drawing his head back down until their lips reconnected.

Apparently she was neither stunned nor scared. For his part, Mamoru felt a little of both, but that was nothing compared to the warmth of her in his arms, and those lips like velvet moving against his. Kissing him. That was the thought that just about knocked him over. She wasn't just letting him hold her. Her slender arms were twined around him with surprising strength, and she was the one pressing her body closer. And it was Oh, gods! her tongue nudging at his mouth, teasing it open.

Of course, he was the one who practically bent her over backwards after that. . . .

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"They're gonna pass out if they keep that up," said Rei, in a slightly awed voice. She was immediately rewarded by three pairs of hands grabbing her and tossing her bodily to one side.

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They did eventually find it necessary to breathe. After several minutes of just holding her close, catching his breath and feeling her heartbeat against his chest, Mamoru gathered his courage.

"Usako," he whispered.

"Mmm?" she sighed happily, snuggling further into his arms.

"Well, um, I just wanted to tell you," he stammered, "that, in case you haven't figured it out already. . . I love you."

"Really?" she whispered, tipping her head back to look at him. He nodded. For a moment she just looked up at him, as the most beautiful smile he'd ever seen spread across her face. Then she flung her arms around his neck.

"Mamo-chan! I love you too! I love you so much! I've always loved you!" she babbled happily, a single tear running down her cheek. Mamoru squeezed her tight, then lifted her off her feet and spun her around. She laughed and shrieked, and Mamoru laughed as he'd never laughed before, and when they stopped they both almost fell over.

"I need to do something," Mamoru gasped, once they had caught their balance and stopped laughing. He stepped back, holding her hand, and turned toward the street edge of the building.

"I LOVE TSUKINO USAGI!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. Usagi's jaw dropped, and her face turned bright red. He turned to her and shrugged, grinning. "I promised myself I would do that."

"Okay then," said Usagi, taking a deep breath. "I LOVE CHIBA MAMORU!"

"I LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER!" A flock of pigeons scattered from the rooftop across the street as another shout rang out, followed by a chorus of "MINAKO! SHUT UP!"

"I think my secret agents have betrayed me!" giggled Usagi.

"Secret agents? You mean Minako-chan?"

"And Motoki-onii-san. Stalking you is hard work, you know." He smiled at her serious expression as she turned toward the other building again. "YOU GUYS ARE SO BUSTED!" she hollered, then added quietly "I really will have to hurt them for spying on us!"

"I'll help," smiled Mamoru, slipping his arms around her again. "But later."

"Later," she agreed dreamily, looking up into his eyes.

"Much later. . . ."

"Mmmm. . . ."

THE END

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Oh. My. Lord.

I finished something. I finished something. You don't understand--this never happens! The last time I finished a piece of writing, and actually felt like it was complete, was...um...never? This may indeed be an unprecedented occurance! The opening of a new epoch in my life as a writer! Yay me!

I deserve a party.

Okay, better get back to Bunny Slippers, huh?

-Jessyca (a little giddy)