Baka's Birthday Gift
#48 Rosebud, 890 words

The noise of Crown Arcade began to die down as the sun began to hide behind the horizon. However, the attendees of Mamoru's surprise birthday party kept the fun going amongst themselves. Mamoru wrapped his fingers around a freshly made mug of coffee and took a sip, using the cup as a kind of shield to let his eyes wander around the arcade. He was looking for the instigator of the day's events. Mamoru put the cup down when he spotted the tiny blonde in a far corner of the room, her back to the party and hunched over something hidden by her body. Her body of soft, ivory skin and teasing curves. Suddenly, he wished that it was him and Usagi alone in a far corner of the room, where all of her attention could be brandished on only him.

Mamoru shook his head at the sudden thoughts drifting through his mind. As all-around loving that Usagi was, there was no way she could feel that way about him. Especially after all of the times he teased her until her cheeks were red with anger. That was his favorite expression…

Stop it Mamoru!

He shook his head again and gulped down the rest of his coffee. There was only one way to get the fuzzy feelings out of his mind.

"Whatcha doing, Odango?" he asked right into Usagi's ear.

She almost hit the ceiling in surprise. Mamoru watched as she tried in vain to hide whatever it was that she was working on, but he saw it was the package they crushed earlier that afternoon.

"Oh, nothing," Usagi lied. She tried to turn away from Mamoru, but he was just so close. Her head throbbed with dizziness. Must be his cologne, stinky boy…

"You've been lying to me all day about that thing," he replied, pointing to the squished package that was now opened in Usagi's hands. "You already kept this party a secret from me, so tell me what's in that bag!"

Usagi's eyes bulged with surprise. She had never seen Mamoru so determined before, and she could do nothing more than just show him what it was. Usagi let out a sigh, a little disappointed that what she had worked on for so long was destroyed in yet another klutz attack. She pulled out a piece of paper, flicked off something strange, and held out her hand.

Mamoru peered down to look at it and couldn't stop himself from smiling. Apparently, Usagi had baked him cupcakes and put them in a bag on top of a hand-made birthday card. He took the frosting-soaked card and took in all of the effort Usagi must have put into it. There was a fluffy felt bunny holding a tiny rosebud on the cover, and inside, the flowing script of Usagi's hand.

Happy birthday, Mamoru-kun. May today bloom with many surprises. Love, Usa-chan.

"Today has been filled with many surprises, Odango," Mamoru said, lifting his eyes to settle them on Usagi after reading his card.

The girl beamed. "Which one was the most surprising?" she asked happily.

Mamoru looked off into the distance before returning his steel blue gaze on Usagi. He could see her blush, if only a little. "The fact that you can bake cupcakes and still be alive to try to give them to me."

Usagi's mouth dropped open, ready to spit out the insults at the tip of her tongue. Mamoru could only chuckle and waved his hands in a truce. He didn't want to fight with her after such a wonderful day. "This card, Usa," he said softly. "I like it the most out of all of my presents. Is this a real rosebud?"

Her heart skipped a beat when he called her that new name. It wasn't Odango, wasn't Usagi, nor was it Usa-chan. Usa was more endearing than that, and endearing was a tone Usagi never heard from Mamoru before. She smiled at the thought. "Yes, I was walking in the park when a gardener gave it to me. He said that roses show someone you care about them. They're very special flowers to me."

Usagi bit her lip, cursing herself for bringing up another man when one so much more tangible and much less elusive was standing in front of her. As if I have a chance with either Tuxedo Kamen or Mamoru…

Mamoru could tell that she was thinking about something. Or possibly, someone. Or worse, someone other than him. He sucked in a breath and some courage from the depths of his soul and placed his fingers under her chin, tilting her head up so he could drown in the sea of her eyes. Then he smiled. "Are you saying you care for me?" he asked.

Usagi felt weak in the knees. Her mind raced as an electric current flowed from Mamoru through his simple touch. It screamed at her to say something, anything to answer his question.

Say yes!

Admit you care for him more than a friend.

Tell him how you feel about him.

Confess that you wish you were more to him than something to tease.

Instead, Usagi coolly returned the smile. "No," she relied, sticking out her tongue at Mamoru before walking away towards her senshi friends. "I don't really care for you."

I love you, baka.