Hold Me by the Heart

By: Xhibit B

Chapter Four – Putting Together the Pieces

.i do not own sailor moon.

Mamoru smiled as he glanced down at the card before handing it over to the young florist who peeked at what was written. She smiled as she arranged the card holder into the flowers so that it was easily spotted, "Your girlfriend is a lucky girl. I wish I'd find someone that would do something like this for me."

Mamoru smiled politely before thanking her and leaving the flower shop with the confirmation that they would be delivered by the end of the night, along with the small gift that he'd added to it. He hoped that she would find the note that was cradled inside the box, aside from the card that he'd had added to the flowers. It had something very important written on it that was essential for her to find.

His hands slipped into the pockets of his jacket as he left the flower shop and began his trek to the arcade. He couldn't wait to see how she reacted to this next gift, and with Valentine's Day right around the corner, she'd know soon enough who her secret admirer was. But for now, he would head to the arcade and check in with Motoki and see how the day was treating his best friend. When he walked into the arcade, he was greeted by the sight of Usagi sitting at the counter, looking dejected. She'd obviously not had any luck with finding out who had sent the necklace to her. His talk with Motoki would have to wait until they were alone again. He'd tell him then that he would, in fact, be joining them for the Valentine's Day masquerade party that he was holding at the arcade in a few days.

Squaring his shoulders, he made his way over to the counter and slid into his usual stool next to Usagi. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye as he gestured for Motoki to get him his usual coffee. The blond nodded before turning to grab the coffee pot. "Didn't have any luck finding out who it was from the jewelry store, did you?"

Usagi huffed in frustration before she looked up at the raven hair, "The girl told me that it was ordered online and sent to the florist. She said that they can't give out that information because of legal reason. Apparently, if they gave out information on things that have been ordered by people through their website, they can be tracked and could actually sue the company if it led to them getting hurt or something like that. So, it's back to the drawing board. Your idea was good in theory but, it can't be done."

Mamoru offered a sympathetic smile as Motoki placed the cup of coffee in front of him. He added several packets of sugar before stirring it into the brew. "Well, I imagine this person wouldn't want to stay anonymous forever. Maybe they have the intentions of telling you who they are face to face. Perhaps at Motoki's party? You know, since it's a Valentine's Day masquerade party and all."

Usagi looked as if she were thinking about what he said. Mamoru hoped that she took the bait and would sign up to go to the party right then. But even if she didn't, she'd get his note with the next gift and would have no choice but to sign up for the masquerade party if she wanted to find out who it was. He irked a brow as he waited for her response.

"Mm, I don't know about that," Usagi murmured thoughtfully. Mamoru deflated. "I planned to stay home, away from the party. But you might be right, I'll think about it." That was all Mamoru could hope for.

…

Ami walked with her arm hooked into Zoisite's, a small smile on her face. The couple were on their way to visit with Usagi. They'd been put up to the task of trying to convince her to go to the Valentine's Day Masquerade party that Motoki was hosting in a few days.

"Do you think that we'll be able to convince her," Ami asked, thoughtfully. "She was very insistent that she would not be attending the party when we talked to her the other day. It would be horrible to force her to go, especially when we'll all be there, together, with a Valentine and she's all alone."

Zoisite smiled, albeit a bit uneasy, his hand rubbing his girlfriend's shoulder comfortingly. He felt bad, forcing Usagi to join them because Minako and the others insisted that she needed to come out and have fun wasn't a nice thing to do. As her friends, they should have respected Usagi's wishes not to attend the party. And both he and Ami had, had every intention of doing so… until they pulled the short straw and were tasked with doing this.

"I don't think she'll change her mind," Zoisite answered truthfully. "But, we were forced to come and ask so let's go ahead and get this over with. We'll ask once and if she still says no, we'll leave."

"Sounds like a plan," Ami hummed as they walked up the small set of stairs that led to the front door. She knocked before stepping back when she heard someone coming to the door. It opened a moment later to reveal Usagi's mother. "Good evening Mrs. Tsukino, we came to see Usagi. Is she here?"

"She just stepped out to get a few things for me from the store, but she should be back in a few minutes," Ikuko said before stepping to the side, gesturing for them to come in. "Why don't you two come in and wait for her? It shouldn't be too long a wait."

"Of course, thank you," Zoisite said before they entered the home, leaving their shoes at the genkan and dawning the slippers that were meant for guests. Ikuko led them to the family room where she had them wait, promising to come back with something for them to drink and snack on. Zoisite smiled when the woman returned. "You have a beautiful home, Mrs. Tsukino."

Ami nodded in agreement. It'd been some time since she last visited, and it looked like Ikuko had redecorated in the years that had passed. Zoisite, who had never had the pleasure of setting foot in Usagi's childhood home before, looked around in amazement. Photographs of the family hung from the walls, in each one he could tell that Usagi and her brother had gotten older. There were summer ones, Christmas ones, even some from family vacations. The Tsukino family was very close, unlike his own. Ikuko returned a few minutes later with hot tea and a slice of homemade cheesecake for each of them.

Ami thanked the woman before she returned to the kitchen, taking the slice that had been meant for her into her hands as Zoisite took his. Satisfied hums escaped both of them just as the front door opened and Usagi poked her head in. Her brow irked as her shoes were removed and her bunny slippers replaced them. She walked in, holding several bags in her hands. "Hey guys, what are you two doing here?"

Ami swallowed her bite of cheesecake before answering. "Sorry to barge in on you like this Usagi but, we were tasked, quite reluctantly, to come and beg you to join us at the Valentine's Day masquerade party in a couple days by Minako and the others. Mostly Minako though."

Usagi rolled her eyes, gesturing for them to give her a moment as she took the bags to the kitchen. She returned a moment later with her own slice of cheesecake and tea. "She doesn't give up, does she?"

"Unfortunately, no," Zoisite chuckled. "We had been discussing colours that we would wear as a group when it was brought up. Ami and I, unfortunately, drew the short straw and were forced to come and try to convince you to come with us." He leaned forward when the glint from the light caught on her necklace to examine the piece of jewelry. He didn't remember that being there before. "That's a beautiful necklace… you haven't always had it, have you?"

Usagi irked a brow before she glanced down at her collar and realized what he was talking about. She'd forgotten she was wearing the necklace that had been sent to her with the roses the other day. "Oh this? I just got it, it came with those roses there."

She gestured to the roses that sat on the end table, the flowers blooming beautifully. Ami and Zoisite both exchanged a glance. Who could have sent them to Usagi?

"Do you know who sent them," Ami asked.

"No, I tried going to the jewelry store to ask who bought the necklace," Usagi answered. "But they couldn't give me any information. I've got a secret admirer, I guess."

"Obviously," Zoisite said, a lopsided smile on his face. "That's not a cheap piece of jewelry. Whoever it is clearly cares about you, but they're too shy to make themselves known right now. Do you have any hints as to who it might be?"

"Not a clue," Usagi answered, "Like I said, I tried going to the jewelry store to find out. Mamoru actually suggested that, and it was the best idea I had to go off of since I got the necklace. Then he suggested going to the Valentine's Day party because maybe my secret admirer was going to be there. Which is also possible because who gets someone this nice necklace but doesn't tell them who they are eventually?"

At this, Ami smiled, listening as Usagi continued to ramble on. She had a clue as to who this secret admirer was. Of course, Mamoru would suggest going to the jewelry store to ask. He knew that they weren't able to divulge that information so his secret would be safe. Then, suggesting that she go to the party to meet her secret admirer there. She'd found out earlier that he'd signed up to go from Motoki. Not to mention the obvious attraction he had for her friend. And, Minako had mentioned giving him advice on how to get a girl to notice him and everything was playing out as she described. If he was following her plan as she'd told them, then Usagi would be receiving yet another gift and an invitation to go to the Masquerade party very soon.

"Then maybe you should go to the party," Zoisite pointed out once Usagi finished explaining. "Who knows, you might find out who this guy is then."

"I'm thinking about it," Usagi said just as someone knocked on the front door. Her brow furrowed as she stood, "We weren't expecting anyone else."

Ami watched with a knowing smile as the blond made her way to the door and opened it to reveal a delivery man standing there. Usagi signed for the package and flowers before kicking the door shut with the heel of her foot and making her way back to the living room. Her mother had peeked out when she heard the door, drying her hands on a dish towel.

"Another gift," Ikuko asked, irking a brow.

"Looks like it," Usagi said setting the vase of flowers down on the coffee table. Ami admired the beautiful arrangement of roses, stargazer lilies and carnations. Who knew Mamoru had such impeccable taste in flowers? "Look, there's another card."

"What does it say," Zoisite asked as she pulled the white card from the card holder.

"Trees sway gently in the wind as twilight descends, marmalade hues imbue the sky. And as the golden orb dips below the horizon, Luna rises to a twinkle of stars, and a song of love drifts on the moonbeams," Usagi read. "A poem, about the moon. My favourite poem, actually. It's by Joseph May, he won a contest by entering it back in January."

Ami's brow shot upward. Not even she knew that Usagi loved that poem. Mamoru had definitely done his homework on her. It made her curious about what was in the box, "Why don't you open the gift that came with it, Usagi?"

Usagi placed the card on the table before picking up the glossy, silver box. She noticed the little moon and star shapes that were etched into it and smiled. She pulled the end of the white tulle bow and untied it before lifting the lid. When she did, she was met by the sight of a set of moon shaped stud earrings. She couldn't help but notice that they matched the necklace.

Gingerly, she picked them up from inside the box before she noticed the piece of paper that had been cradled beneath the pillow the held the earrings. The jewelry was set to the side before she picked up the note and unfolded it. She was met with the same beautiful, elegant cursive writing that had been present on both cards that came with the arrangements. She smiled, "There's a note."

"What's it say," Ami asked, curious.

"It says, 'Meet me in the centre of the arcade at the Valentine's Day Masquerade party at 10 pm. You'll find out who I am then'," Usagi read off. She grinned, turning to look at her two friends. "Looks like I'm going to the Valentine's Day party after all."

Ami smiled, taking a sip of her tea. She couldn't wait to see how Usagi reacted to finding out that it had been Mamoru that sent her those gifts. She was sort of glad that she and Zoisite had been the ones that came to try and convince her to go. If Minako had come, she'd have blown the secret and Usagi probably would have had a heart attack then. Ami, thankfully, knew how to keep her mouth shut.

The couple left the Tsukino house an hour and a half later, having stayed for dinner when Ikuko insisted that it was okay. As they left, Zoisite glanced down at his girlfriend, a brow irked. She'd looked like she knew something the entire time that they were there, and he was curious to know what it was. "You look like you know some big secret that everyone else is oblivious to. So spill, what is it?"

"Let's just say that Usagi's secret admirer really isn't that much of a secret after all," Ami pointed out.

Zoisite tried to get her to explain what she'd meant by that. She'd kept her mouth shut the entire time, telling him that he would see what she meant at 10 pm on Valentine's Day at the party.

Coming Up Next: Chapter Five – Usagi's Revelation