Hold Me by the Heart

By: Xhibit B

Chapter Six – Roses Are Red

.i do not own sailor moon.

Usagi stared in horror as Minako and Rei rummaged through her closet, trying to find something suitable for her to wear to the Valentine's Day Masquerade party the following evening. Ami was engrossed in her textbook, she had a test the next morning and had only agreed to come over to be emotional support for Usagi while she was being tormented. Makoto was downstairs cooking, the heavenly smell of delicious treats wafting up to her bedroom. Mako had convinced Usagi's mother to allow her to use the kitchen so that she could prepare snacks for all the girls and Ikuko had happily agreed. They'd be spending the night over at Usagi's house that evening, Ami had suggested they do a crash study course since they had midterms coming up in a matter of weeks and then they'd just go to school together the next morning.

She immediately regretted telling them about her secret admirer and him wanting to meet her because the second the words slipped from her mouth, Rei and Makoto had pounced. They'd been the last to find out what was going on with the blond that week since she hadn't been too talkative about the whole situation. But now that they knew, the study session that they were supposed to be having had quickly turned into a close raiding session to find something for Usagi to wear the following night. Minako only knew about the secret admirer because she'd stupidly sought out her help to figure out how to handle the situation.

While Minako had led her to finding out that it was, in fact, Mamoru that had sent the necklace and earrings, she wasn't so sure that telling the other blond about the situation had been the greatest idea she'd ever had. Usagi had found out that Ami knew who it was that morning when she'd come to her for advice since she and Zoisite had been present when she got the earrings. She wasn't shocked whatsoever that her blue haired friend had figured it out before anyone else. There was a reason she was a certified genius.

"Mm... what about this one," Rei asked holding up another of Usagi's dresses that had been hanging in the closet. This one was a knee length, formfitting white one with pink lace accenting the bust. "I think I have the perfect mask to go along with it, since this is a masquerade party and all."

"I don't know, don't you think it's a little too sexy for the party," Minako asked, her finger placed to her chin. "I mean, it's a great dress and I would totally wear it myself. But she's just now meeting this guy for the first time. You don't want him to be too overwhelmed with the sexiness. And those cut out sides are way too sexy for this meeting."

Ami and Usagi shared a look. Mamoru had already seen her at her absolute worst over the years, being sexy would definitely be a change. Besides, the look on his face would have been priceless if she were to wear that dress and he saw her. She could just imagine how that would play out. His mouth would probably hit the floor the moment he laid eyes on her. Maybe she would wear it after all.

"You know what, you have a point," Rei said before she clapped her hands together. "In that case then, I say we go on a shopping trip! Usagi needs the perfect outfit to meet her mystery man in. And I have a few more things to pick up myself. Jed's gift should be ready by now and I don't feel like fighting the crowds tomorrow just to go and get it."

Ami giggled, shaking her head as her attention returned to her textbook. It was a mystery to them who the "mystery man" was. But she'd figured it out the moment that she pieced two and two together. And Usagi had figured it out after Minako blabbed about helping Mamoru. The girl was smarter than everyone gave her credit for.

"Well, I wouldn't be opposed to a shopping trip," Makoto said as she walked into the room holding a tray of fresh baked goodies. "I have one more thing to get for Neph anyways. We have something planned after the party." There was a suggestive wink of her eye. He other girls knew immediately what she was getting at and fell into fits of laughter. Makoto glanced down at her watch. "The mall closes in about an hour and a half, so what do you say we get going? We can take my car. I drove over here."

"Sounds like a great idea," Minako chimed happily. "So, what are we waiting for? Let's get a move on and head to the mall before it closes, and we lose this chance. I'd hate to see how packed its going to be tomorrow if we try to go after class."

"Point taken," Rei said before she took the book from Ami's hands. A moment later she was pulling both the bluenette and Usagi to their feet. "Let's go ladies, we have a lot to do and little time to do it. Usagi you need a dress and Ami don't you still need to find shoes to go with your outfit for tomorrow night."

"But I already got the shoes this afternoon," Ami protested as they five of them left the house.

Usagi let her mother know that they were going to be going out for a few hours after depositing the baked goods into the kitchen so that they weren't left in her bedroom. Ikuko had nodded, telling them to be back as soon as possible for dinner. Usagi promised they would be back in time as she ran out the door, she could hear Rei shouting for her to hurry up and she knew from many years of experience that the girl had a short temper and really hated having to wait.

…

Usagi wanted to run away the moment that they stepped foot into the mall. It was crowded and if she stepped the wrong way she was positive that she would fall over and break her neck. She really wanted to make this trip as quick as possible. "Um guys, do you think we can speed it up? Mom wants us back in time for dinner and as packed as it is in here, that's going to take a lot of doing and no standing around. I could have just worn the black dress that you all had in your hands at first."

"But that was way too sexy for you to wear," Minako protested as she was dragged into a department store straight to the dress section. "You don't want to overwhelm the guy the first time that he sees you while you're at the party. That's the first rule of dating! Never overwhelm your potential love match at the first meeting."

"Do you think these are actual spoken laws or something that Minako came up with on her own," Makoto whispered to Rei. "Because I'm pretty sure we've never heard these rules before."

"You know Minako considers herself the love guru," Rei whispered back as they watched Minako hold different dresses up to her to decide on what would be best for her to wear. "And apparently these rules are something that she's made up herself. I wouldn't read too much into them though. Usagi obviously is not paying attention to anything she's saying if the way she's looking at her has anything to say about it. But I'm wondering why she said that she would have been okay with wearing the dress that I found in her closet earlier. Like she knows who the guy is or something."

Ami couldn't help the laugh that escaped her grasp as she brushed a lock of blue hair out of her face. Of course, Usagi knew who it was. And she was more than likely going to wear the original dress that had been picked or find something else that would make his jaw drop.

Caught off guard by her laugh, Rei and Makoto turned to glance at Ami, brows irked.

"Ami, do you know something that we don't know," Makoto asked, folding her arms over her chest. "If you do, spill it. Secrets don't make friends."

"But friends make secrets and I promised Usagi that I wouldn't say anything," Ami answered. "Though I will tell you that she and I both know who the secret admirer is already. And you're going to be surprised when you see who it is tomorrow night."

"What, Ami you know," Rei asked, surprised. "How long have you known? Did Usagi tell you who it was?"

"Actually, I figured it out for myself," Ami answered. "I've known for about a week now. I just put two and two together and I figured out my answer. When Usagi asked me about it because I was with her when she got the earrings, I'd told her that I figured it out and we'd both come to the same conclusion."

"So why can't you fill us in on who it is," Rei asked irking a brow.

"Because it's not my secret to tell," Ami answered.

"No, Usagi that is not the type of dress that you wear when you first meet someone," Minako huffed with disdain, her arms folded over her chest. "Have I taught you nothing when it comes to dressing up for the occasion? Put that one back and try the red one! We have to keep a constant theme. We're all wearing red, pink and white in some sort of variation. That is purple. Absolutely not."

"You are like a dictator, you know that," Usagi asked irking a brow at the other blond as she placed the dress back on the rack. "First I can't wear the white dress that I have in my closet. Now you keep finding something wrong with every dress we pick up in this store. I'm kinda at a loss on what to do here Mina."

"What do you girls say we head over to the other section of the store where the women's intimates are," Rei asked, looking over at Ami and Makoto. "Didn't you say that you needed to pick up something else for your night with Nephrite after the party?"

"You're right, I do," Makoto said as the three made their way over to the other section, leaving their bickering friends to find something for Usagi to wear the next evening.

…

Mamoru whistled as he walked through his apartment, a towel over his shoulders to catch the water that dripped from his hair. He'd been making his way towards the kitchen when he heard a knock at the front door to his apartment, stopping mid-stride. He turned on his heel and made his way over to the main entrance, peeking out at the person that stood on the other side. He was surprised to see that it was a delivery man standing there holding what appeared to be roses.

The door was pulled opened, the raven hair irking a brow, "Yes, can I help you?"

"Mamoru Chiba," the man asked as he glanced down at the name on the delivery notice.

"That's me," Mamoru affirmed with a nod.

"Sign here please," the man requested as he held the digital autograph-er and stylus out to him.

Mamoru signed before handing it back to the gentleman and taking the roses that were passed to him in return. The man tipped his hat before turning on his heel and heading for the elevator that would take him back to the ground floor. Mamoru closed the door behind him, taking the bouquet into the living room where they were placed on the coffee table. He pulled the stick that held the card out of the bouquet and turned it over in his hand to read the message that had been written aloud.

"Roses are red, violets are blue, I look forward to seeing you. Usagi Tsukino."

He chuckled to himself, placing the card back on the table beside the vase of roses. Well, he supposed he'd never get to see the surprised look on her face when he revealed himself since she already knew who sent everything. Minako probably blabbed about giving him advice and she'd put two and two together. He shrugged, moving to stand from his seat on the couch again. He'd have to find something to wear to the party the following night, anyway.

Coming Up Next: Chapter Seven – Happy Valentine's Day, Usagi