Hold Me by the Heart

By: Xhibit B

Chapter Three – Code Name, Secret Admirer

.i do not own sailor moon.

Usagi hummed wistfully as she lay across her bed, the tiny card that had come with the roses held between her index finger and thumb. Cerulean eyes read over the small poem that had been neatly written on the white card in elegant cursive. The corner of her mouth lifted into a smile. Maybe, just maybe, she'd get that happy ending on Valentine's Day that she'd always hoped for. Her friends wouldn't be the only ones that had boyfriends to fawn over them and buy them beautiful gifts that they could cherish for the rest of their days. She couldn't help the tiny part of her that was hoping that it had been Mamoru that sent the flowers and necklace for her. What she wouldn't give to know that he returned the feelings that she held deep in her heart for him.

Had he finally recognized her feelings that she'd so blatantly displayed for so many years towards him after all? If so, why hadn't he signed the card with his name then? Mamoru didn't seem like the type of person that would be shy and not tell a girl how he felt to her face. Her face soured as that dream was dashed, it couldn't possibly have been him that sent such a beautiful arrangement and necklace to her.

Sighing heavily, the blond placed the card on her nightstand before sitting up and reaching to un-clip the necklace. Carefully, she laid it in the box that it had been sent in cautiously to ensure that the chain didn't get tangled before closing said box. She laughed under her breath as she snuggled under the blankets of her bed, turning over on her side as she turned off the light.

Her cousins and brother had noticed the necklace around her neck at dinner almost immediately and asked, quite vehemently, who had given it to her and how much it cost. Of course, Usagi had seen the price tag that was on the edge of the chain, quickly ripping it away before her mother could have seen it when she first opened the box. She quickly told them the story, her aunt cooing at how romantic it was just as her mother did, as her father and uncle scoffed. Her father, despite her almost being twenty years old, was very much against the thought of Usagi dating. Her mother would always tell him to leave the girl be, she was plenty old enough to have a boyfriend. Usagi appreciated her mother for keeping her father off her back. While Kenji meant well, he could be quite overbearing when it came to his only daughter.

Usagi's head snuggled into her pillow, pulling the sheets up just underneath her chin. There was a smile on her face as she fell into a peaceful sleep, dreaming of who the secret admirer could have been. There was no rational reason why it would have been Mamoru that sent her the flowers and necklace. But, she still couldn't help but hold out hope that he was, in fact, responsible for sending her such a beautiful gift and writing such beautiful words on the small card she'd keep tucked away in her wallet from now on.

…

Mamoru felt as if he were walking on a cloud the moment he walked into the arcade. He'd received confirmation that the gift was delivered to Usagi the night before via the tracking number he'd been given for his order. Minako's idea was perfect, he would gift her with several different gifts, all leading up to Valentine's Day where he would finally reveal himself to her at the party Motoki was holding. The smile on his face made many of the patrons' glance at him curiously as he passed by. In the many years that he'd frequented the arcade, no one had ever seen him walk with such a smile on his face before. It was slightly concerning to those that knew him. All but Motoki who knew why he wore such a grin.

Motoki irked a brow at the raven hair when he slid into a stool, "I take it you took Minako's advice?"

"I did," Mamoru hummed as that goofy grin subsided from his features as a cup of coffee was placed before him. He added the sugar before taking a quick sip of the hot liquid. "I got confirmation that it was delivered around six last night. Has she come in yet today?"

"No, not yet," Motoki answered as he dried one of the cups that he'd just washed. "But she should be here soon enough. Why do you ask? Are you waiting to see something?"

"You could say that," Mamoru said before placing the cup of coffee to his lips again.

Motoki glanced at him, confused until the doors opened to reveal the very woman that was the topic of their discussion. Mamoru must have noticed she was the one that had come in too, because that smile returned to his lips, only slightly less goofy this time. He hid it well behind the lip of his cup as Usagi approached the counter and slid into the seat beside him, careful to make sure her arm didn't graze his side from how close they were.

Motoki glanced at her to see if he could spot anything out of place. It caught his eye almost instantly. The moon pendent necklace hung prettily from her neck, the jewels shimmering under the florescent lights of the arcade. It was beautiful. That must have been what Mamoru had been hinting at when he'd asked if the other male was waiting to see something. Well… at least he could say that Mamoru had exquisite taste in jewelry. Who knew he had it in him?

"That's a beautiful necklace, Usagi," Motoki quipped suddenly. He could see the way she smiled as her fingers came to rest over the pendent. "Who got it for you?"

She glanced down at the necklace, "I'm not sure. When I got home last night, a delivery guy brought it along with a bouquet of some of the most beautiful red roses I've ever seen. When I read the card, it was signed anonymous."

"A secret admirer huh," Motoki said, glancing at Mamoru who sat with the most impassive look he could muster on his face. The blond could tell that he was trying his hardest to keep his features as emotionless as he could manage. His attention turned fully to Usagi a moment later. "You can't think of anyone that might want to get you something like that? That necklace couldn't have been cheap."

Mamoru wanted to say it wasn't. He'd spent a pretty penny on that one piece of jewelry. But, he'd told himself that she was worth it, especially if Minako's plan worked out the way she'd described it to him. Besides, the 64,000 yen had hardly put a dent in his pocket from the vast inheritance his parents had left behind for him. And he'd honestly do it again, without a second thought.

"I've seen this pendent before, at Osa-P," Usagi hummed thoughtfully. "Naru's Mom said it was a one of a kind. And I'm pretty sure it cost over 64,000 yen, if I remember correctly."

Motoki had to refrain himself from looking over at Mamoru, the bewildered expression on his face giving away his surprise to the blond. His best friend had spent that kind of money on her? He was really serious about this, he guessed. He did also recall that Mamoru's parents had left behind a huge inheritance for him when they passed away years ago. How else was he going to put himself through university then move on to medical school without scholarships out the ass? Or afford such an expensive piece of jewelry? There was a strangled noise that almost sounded like a cat being choked that escaped the blond before he regained his composure. He'd made up, in his mind, that he and Mamoru would talk about this when Usagi wasn't present to hear them.

"Whoever this guy is, he really does have a thing for you," Motoki chuckled. Mamoru didn't miss the sly glance he'd cast his way from the corner of his eye. "Do you think it might be someone at your school that sent it for you?"

He already knew full well who the hell it was, but he wanted to gauge what he could from the young woman. Maybe she did have an inkling of an idea of the feelings Mamoru actually held for her. He was mentally patting himself on the back for intervening when he did and telling Mamoru the truth. Obviously, it set him to doing things like this since he had. With a little bit of help from an unsuspecting Minako.

"I have no idea who could have sent this," Usagi answered, Motoki deflated. So, she wasn't aware still. "But I plan to find out! I still have the card that was left by whoever sent the necklace and roses to me." She reached into her wallet and produced the small, white card to show to Motoki. Mamoru almost choked on his coffee. He hadn't expected her to keep that too, of all things. He'd have to be careful not to leave anything with his handwriting lying around to where she could see it and blow his cover before it was time. "I'm going to do the handwriting test. Maybe I'll get lucky and figure out who it was that wrote this by comparing the writing."

Motoki laughed. He'd seen Mamoru's reaction from the corner of his eye when Usagi pulled the card from her wallet. Obviously he hadn't been thinking about the fact that she might keep it. "Whoever he is, he has really nice handwriting." He then turned to look at the dark-haired male with a grin. "What do you think about all of this, Mamoru?"

He took a sip of his coffee, glowering at Motoki briefly before pulling the mug away from his lips when Usagi looked at him expectantly. "You're the last person I'd ask about this, but seriously, what do you think? I need rational thought."

He took a breath to calm his nerves. Why the hell had Motoki dragged him into this, dammit? "Whoever got it for you obviously cares about you. Maybe you can try speaking with the clerk who sold the jewelry to the guy and they can maybe tell you who it was?"

"You know what, that's actually a really good idea," Usagi chirped, happily standing from her seat.

He wasn't sure if it was because she was overjoyed with his suggestion or she actually had the sinking suspicion that it was him that sent the damn necklace to begin with, but he was surprised when she pressed her lips to his cheek briefly before dashing out of the arcade. Mamoru blinked, glancing back over his shoulder at her as she disappeared around the corner. That went better than he'd expected. And he hadn't panicked and teased her when she asked for his help. He was getting better at this.

"You know if she asks the clerk who bought the necklace, she's going to find out that it was you," Motoki pointed out.

Mamoru just smiled and shook his head. "No she won't. I ordered it online and had it sent to the florist to be delivered with the roses. They're not able to give out that information even if someone asked. It's against the law. I'm safe."

"Sneaky," Motoki quipped, a laugh escaping his grasp as he dried another glass. "You really thought this through, didn't you? What are you getting her next?"

"Wait and see," Mamoru said before placing a few bills on the counter and leaving the arcade, his cellphone in hand.

Coming Up Next: Chapter Four – Putting Together the Pieces