A.N.: This is the very last chapter of Chocolate Scented. I thought there would be some kind of symbolic significance to finish it exactly a year after I started it. So I made an extra effort to get it out of my head tonight.

I'd like to pass out virtual hugs for everyone that stuck with me all this time. I will finish my other one but even I'm not foolish enough to promise that I'll have a chapter out soon. My life is just too freakin' crazy and unimaginative at the moment and I won't write crap just for the sake of having chapters out there. (I know you tell me it isn't crap, but I can't find it in me to believe you...)

Disclaimer: They're not mine, even though I love them so. The constellation story at the end I made up off the top of my crazy head so that's probably mine. Enjoy

Chocolate Scented
Chapter 4

By Magawa

It was her last day of work and while she was glad that the work was over, she was certainly going to miss the cute little pink building with the heavenly smell.

Her only major problem was that tomorrow was Christmas Eve and she still hadn't worked out just exactly what she wanted to get Mamoru-san. Dark chocolates – check. But was that it? Surely there had to be something else worthwhile that he would want and enjoy and would always make him think of her…

Peering thoughtfully at the glass casing containing all those delicious candies she helped make, she decided to buy just a few more things.

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She was nervous. Astoundingly so.

What if after this they no longer had anything in common? What if he just happened to be there before and now that she no longer had work after school things would change? What if, what if he only thought of her as a friend? Or worse, like a little sister? Could she live with that?

So she stood in front of her mirror, nervously adjusting the Christmassy red bows that encircled her odangos. A choker with three tiny bells at the front adorned her neck. She was dressed nice but simply in colors of the season. She didn't want to wear anything that was going to make her uncomfortable or self-conscious – after all Mamoru-san had seen her in her work clothes. Basically all that meant was that he'd seen her covered in chocolate. (Really, were those aprons of any use at all?) And frankly anything she wore would be better looking than those spotted brown with chocolate disasters he normally saw her wearing. Usagi heaved a grateful sigh. At least he'd never seen her with one of those horrible hairnets.

Glancing quickly at the bag on her bed, she hoped the gift would be good enough. Perfect was too much to ask for, but good enough was possible… There was a pretty good chance Mamoru would like this gift… but whether it was going to be enough… well that was another thing altogether.

Checking her appearance in the mirror one last time, she glanced at the clock and grabbed her bag before dashing out. "I am going to be SO late!"

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Gods he was nervous. And he was never nervous. He'd taken on youma. He'd saved lives. He'd had civil conversations with her. This was going to be just fine. No problem. Right, no problem what-so-ever…

But what if she didn't feel the same? That it was just coincidental that he was always there at the arcade when she was …? Or what if she completely discounted him because of how he'd treated her in the past? He'd kick himself if it were really possible to do so. What if he'd blown his chances with her already? What if she only wanted to be friends? Would it kill him if she rejected him at this point? Or would it just be one of those slow, painful near-death experiences?

Truthfully he was amazed she'd even agreed to meet him on a night that was usually reserved for friends and boyfriends. He wasn't sure if she considered him to be either of those at this point… and he certainly didn't want to be one of those pity dates.

Glancing into the mirror and rolling his eyes at his own awkward behavior just seemed like the only thing to do at this point. Combing his hair back with frustration he checked his reflection in the mirror. No green jacket – check. Nice comfortable clothes – check. Single red rose – check. Gift for Usagi – check.

Sending a last pleading prayer to the heavens before he left he hoped that the gift he'd chosen for her would be enough to convince her that he needed her in his life. And not as just friends either…

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'I hate running late,' Usagi thought. 'I hate running late. I hate running late. I hate running … Oomph!'

"Ouch. That might have left a bruise," she mumbled darkly from her sprawled position on the cold, hard ground.

"Yeah no kidding," Mamoru huffed as if slightly out of breath. "I think I might have sprained something if you were any bigger or had any weight at all to throw around."

She sat up and glanced over at him splayed out on his back and started to giggle. "Running late Mamo-chan?"

"Uh, just a tad," he stated sitting up and then climbing into an upright position. "You see, I'm going out with this great girl tonight and I didn't want her to be there waiting for me all alone. Who knows who would snatch you up if I weren't there," he added jokingly while extending her a hand.

"Right," Usagi replied grabbing his hands to pull herself so she was standing. "As if anyone who weren't crazy like you would want to spend time with me. Besides I'm always late – even though I was really, really trying to be on time today."

Mamoru just shook his head in disbelief although the shaking also served to negate her words. Who wouldn't want to be with her? Bending over to pick up their scattered belongings Mamoru spotted the rose and promptly handed it over to her.

Her delighted expression alone would have made the gift worth giving, but she treated it as if it were the greatest gift in the world. Bringing the rose to her face she breathed in its soft elusive scent. She made a beautiful picture. The rose seemed to make her cheeks even pinker and her eyelashes seem impossibly long. Lifting her eyelids to glance at him she smiled. "It's beautiful Mamoru. Where did you get it? Roses aren't in season right now."

It was just like her to know that. "Oh I know somebody," he answered elusively, giving her a casual grin.

Usagi laughed. "I bet you do. Come on Romeo, let's go somewhere. It's cold just standing here."

Mamoru smiled before pulling her close and threading her arm through his so that they linked. "Wherever you want..."

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They settled into a booth looking out over the bustling city streets. The restaurant was cozy and filled with the inviting warmth of the season. Lit candles gave off a gentle glow and several couples seemed to be completely lost within one another.

Not so for Mamoru and Usagi – it was as if ditching the Arcade and their shared coffee cup had made their comfort around each other dissipate as well. Usagi fingered her rose thoughtfully, desperately seeking a vein of conversation that would put them back into their comfort zone. Mamoru sat, equally distracted watching her trying to think of something to say. It was easy enough to avoid real conversation at first with their menus in front of them, but now that they were gone if was a completely different story. The awkward tension was almost palpable.

The thing that finally broke the tension was their simultaneous ordering of coffee once their regular drinks had arrived. They grinned at each other and the awkward feeling was gone.

Usagi pulled from her bag a box of chocolates explaining as she did that she'd helped make and pack every bit of this candy. Opening the box Mamoru was amazed. Each piece of chocolate was perfect in shape and size – all marked exactly the way she'd described them. Picking up one with an X on it, Mamoru asked, "Chocolate cream, right?"

"Very good," Usagi answered nodding approvingly.

"I was paying attention when you told me. I just wasn't aware there was going to be a quiz on all of it…" he joked wryly looking at the box full of chocolates.

"Oh no quiz," Usagi answered imperiously with her nose high in the air mocking some teacher she must have had (or perhaps just teachers in general). "Just a final exam. I suppose I don't need to remind you, Chiba-san that your grade hangs in the balance, hmm?"

Mamoru laughed. The look on her face – the one arched eyebrow combined with the pouty lips was just too much for him to take. The sound of his unrestrained laughter made her grin happily at him.

"Okay," Mamoru conceded. "I'll try my best."

Eager to begin playing the game, Usagi quickly outlined the rules. They would take turns picking out a piece and if the other got it right they'd share that piece. If the person got it wrong then it'd go back in the box until they could correctly guess its contents. Usagi had the final call on all content correctness. Mamoru figured he was at a slight disadvantage… But as long as they were playing together it was bound to be an interesting game.

The game began right as their coffee arrived. As Usagi looked over the box for a good piece, Mamoru automatically began to sweeten the coffee to her liking. And although their waiter had brought two mugs of coffee, Mamoru half-hoped they'd only use one of them at a time.

Looking up from her many choices out of the corner of her eye, Usagi watched him pour an ungodly amount of cream and sugar into the one coffee cup. Figuring that it was her cup because Mamoru liked his coffee black , she reached out to take the cup only to have it pulled just out of her reach before he took a quick sip. Watching her pout over the rim of the cup was enjoyable; the sole reason he'd teased her in the first place was to see that pretty pout directed at him. As Mamoru handed the cup to her she asked, "I thought you liked your coffee black?"

"Oh I did, but I like it better with cream and sugar nowadays."

"Why is that?" Usagi asked curiously holding up a dark chocolate candy with a rather sloppy looking 'R' on it's top.

"Dark Chocolate Raspberry and the coffee tastes too bitter now without the cream and sugar." Mamoru replied answering both the spoken and unspoken question at once.

Usagi put down their coffee cup that she'd been sipping. "You're right. I gave you an easy one to start." With that she bit the chocolate in half and handed him the other half.

Chewing thoughtfully, Mamoru looked the box over for an unfamiliar marking. One looked like it had little raised squares on it. Picking it up Mamoru began his turn, "Okay, what's this one?"

"Easy. Vanilla nut caramel," Usagi stated assuredly. "We use these tiny tools that look like mini-flyswatters to make that pattern."

Mamoru smiled, "I'll have to take your word for it." Biting off half he chewed slowly, assessing her diagnosis. Declaring her to have been correct Usagi reached out to claim her half of the chocolate (as per the rules), but Mamoru ignored her hand and brought the chocolate close to her mouth. Usagi's eyes widened but obediently opened her mouth to take her share. His fingers brushed her lips and her mind nearly shut down until a mischievous idea shot through her head. If he could do it, she could too…

Quickly eyeing the box for an easy piece, Usagi settled one with three vertical lines. Holding it up for his inspection she waited.

"Maple Cream," Mamoru answered. "I remember what you told me – three lines like Wolverine's claws from X-men and Wolverine is from Canada and the Canadian flag has a maple leaf on it."

Usagi smiled, "Yup – apparently the best way for me to remember something is by association." She bit the cream in half but it crushed messily in her hand. Holding out the chocolate to Mamoru's mouth she waited for him to take it. She expected his mouth, but his hand was the first thing to touch her. He grabbed her wrist lightly holding her hand in place as if he suspected she'd pull away the chocolate without him to hold her there. Then he opened his mouth to take the chocolate, lightly scraping his teeth against the pads of her fingers to get all the chocolate.

A clearing of the throat had them jumping away from each other; their faces burning red and looking anywhere but at each other. The waiter gently placed their food in front of them, asked if they needed anything else and scuttled away. Three was a crowd at that booth.

They poked at their food for a little while, eating quietly. It was several minutes before either of them worked up the nerve to say anything, and it took quite a bit of effort to finally make them forget what they had been doing before their food arrived.

"So," Usagi began a little uneasily. "Do you, um, have all of your, um Christmas shopping done?"

Mamoru looked her right in the eye. "Of course. I've got your gift right here and I'd found something for Motoki a long time ago."

Usagi looked at him a little incredulously. "And that's all the shopping you did?" she asked waving her fork around erratically.

"Uh, yeah," Mamoru answered, feeling he knew where this conversation would lead.

"So you don't buy gifts for your family?" she asked, innocently enough.

"Well, uh, no." Mamoru answered. "I, uh, don't have any family left and not many friends I want to buy things for, so, uh, no I don't buy for my family." Mamoru ended quickly realizing he was babbling worse than the blonde ever had.

"You don't," Usagi paused, "have any family left?"

"No," Mamoru answered quietly.

"For how long?" Usagi asked, almost dangerously quiet.

"Well, most of my life I think," Mamoru answered almost matter-of-factly while avoiding her eyes. "I've been in and out of orphanages since I was eight. I'm told my parents died in a car accident but I don't remember that or anything before it because I was in the car with them."

"Since you were eight?" Usagi whispered, food forgotten on her plate.

Mamoru glanced up at her face to see her blue eyes glazing over with tears. She threw her head down and to the side so he wouldn't see, but she hadn't been quick enough. Sniffling shakily she willed her eyes to clear. When she felt she could look back at him she said, "I can't even imagine what you must have gone through. I'd be so lonely without my family, especially now at Christmastime…"

"It's not something I'd want you to have to experience," Mamoru agreed.

Shaking her head back and forth quickly sent her hair flying and the tiny bells at her neck tinkling.

"Let's talk about something else," Mamoru started. "This is not a very cheerful conversation."

"No, not really," Usagi replied casting about for a new topic of conversation. "So you got me a gift, right?" she said smiling shyly.

"Of course I got you a gift, Odango."

Usagi pouted a little at him. "And?"

"And what?" he pried. "Oh," he said as if the idea were just occurring to him and he hadn't been teasing her the entire time, "you want to know what you got…?"

Usagi nodded cheerfully bouncing slightly on the booth seat.

Smiling at her, he rummaged in his coat for a small box, pleasantly wrapped in colorful Christmas paper. The tiny box sported a dozen tiny curling ribbons on top. Usagi giggled in delight as she reached for it. Mamoru obligingly handed it over.

Usagi carefully pulled apart the wrapping, taking special care not to tear into any of the tiny ribbons. Underneath the wrapping was a small gray jeweler's box. Looking up at Mamoru questioningly, he nodded at her to go on. It was almost as if she didn't quite believe he'd be nice enough to get her jewelry and could he have possibly intended the gift for someone else and given it to her on accident?

His eyes urged her on, assuring her that the gift really was for her. Usagi opened the little gray box and it fell open at the hinges. Her mouth fell open as well in the process…

Inside was a tiny gold locket on a filigree chain with one major diamond and onyx gem each and smaller trailing gems of the same variety. The colored stones looked like tiny comets the way there was one larger gem trailed by descending smaller ones, but the comets were chasing each other and intertwined into a spiraling pattern. It was the single most charming piece of jewelry she'd ever seen.

Usagi's fingers traced the pattern made by the swirling gems. She almost didn't hear Mamoru's comment and had to ask him to repeat it.

"It was my mother's."

That one comment. That was all he said. She closed her eyes briefly before looking up at him and meeting his eyes. "It's a beautiful necklace Mamoru. Are you sure I can keep it? You probably don't have many things of your mother's. I wouldn't want to…"

"Hey," he cut her off. "If I didn't want you to have it, I wouldn't have given it to you."

"But…" she began.

"But I did give it to you and I do want you to have it," Mamoru finished effectively stopping her protests.

"Would you help me put it on?" Usagi asked tentatively.

"Of course," Mamoru answered swiftly rising and crossing the short distance to kneel behind her in the booth. Sweeping her golden hair out of the way, he took the necklace and turned it so that it would lie properly on her neck before latching the clasp. Mamoru returned to his seat to survey his work. The locket lay a little ways below the petite choker with the bells, resting gently between her collarbones.

"It's a beautiful necklace," Usagi repeated slowly, letting her eyes linger on the pattern. "Now I don't want to give you your gift. It's not nearly as nice as this."

"I'm not worried about it. You had all your friends and family to buy for. I'm a little surprised you got me anything at all…" he trailed off. Looking into her questioning eyes he finished the thought. "After the way I've treated you in the past and all."

Usagi continued to look at him questioningly. "Just because we weren't friends in the past doesn't mean we aren't friends now. And honestly you really weren't that bad in the past," she continued on past his incredulous stare. "Rei's been twice that mean to me on a regular basis and I still consider her to be one of my very best friends. Although she usually does it when she thinks I'm not doing enough to help myself or doing too much to help others or something silly like that…" she trailed out lost in thought about Rei's motives.

Mamoru's thoughts were whirling. If he hadn't loved her before he'd certainly love her now. It was as if she'd wiped his slate clean – it hadn't mattered to her that he was mean or indifferent to her in the past. What mattered was the now and he had apparently made up for it enough to have become her friend. The thought made his heart flutter, but it seemed to skip right out of his chest as he realized that being friends just wasn't good enough anymore.

Usagi didn't seem to notice his lack of attention. Digging into her own bag she retrieved a medium-sized candy bag that had little Santas on the outside. Opening the bag, Mamoru peered inside. There appeared to be little brown round balls within. Arching an eyebrow in question, he reached in a pulled one out so that she could see.

Usagi smiled, "They remind me of you."

Mamoru snorted. "These little brown balls remind you of me?" he asked. "Should I be insulted?" he asked teasingly.

Usagi's mouth dropped open. "You don't know what they are?" she asked in amazement.

"If I did, would I look so confused?" he replied wryly, mouth turning up in a grin.

"Oh, sorry," Usagi said quickly. "They're chocolate covered coffee beans. They remind me of you because of all the times after working making chocolates I'd go to the Arcade and we'd sit and drink coffee together…" Usagi waved her hand futilely towards the little bag.

"Really?" Mamoru asked, eyes lighting up at this new perfect source of caffeine.

"Yeah really," Usagi confirmed. "Would I lie about chocolate?"

"Right," Mamoru confirmed, eyeing one of the little chocolate covered coffee beans before popping it into his mouth experimentally.

Usagi watched him, hoping that he'd like them. He chewed quickly and swallowed and the popped two more in his mouth grinning as he did.

"Do you like them?" Usagi asked grinning too.

"Of course!" Mamoru nearly shouted and then a little quieter: "Who wouldn't like this chocolate/coffee combo? It's perfect!"

Usagi giggled at his enthusiasm. "I'm glad you like them."

"Mmm…" Mamoru murmured. "I am going to get so addicted to these…"

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They finished their meal talking and chattering as if there had never been any awkwardness at all between them. The waiter came and cleared their dishes and still they sat talking. The waiter brought their check and Mamoru was kind enough to pay and still they sat talking. The lights burned low in the candles and still they sat talking. It wasn't until their waiter nudged them that it was closing time that they even noticed how empty the restaurant was, or how advanced the hour.

"Wow, I can't believe how late it is already," Mamoru murmured helping Usagi into her coat.

"Yeah I know. We must have been talking for hours!"

"I guess so, it's nearly eleven-thirty," Mamoru said.

"Wow, I hope Ami or Rei covered for me," Usagi muttered under her breath.

"Hmm?" Mamoru asked.

"Oh, when I, or any of the girls, have to stay out late we always cover for each other. I didn't think we'd be out so late so if my mom calls one of them they're supposed to say I'm out with them, or staying over. And she's okay with that," Usagi explained.

"Why would you have to stay out late?" Mamoru asked leading her out the door.

"No reason in particular," Usagi replied. "It's more of a precaution, really. In case one of us need it for anything."

"So the point is," Mamoru said tucking Usagi's hand into the crook of his arm and smiling at her, "that we don't have to get you back home just yet."

"Right," Usagi replied breathlessly looking up at him.

"Good. Then let's go for a walk."

He lead her out towards the park taking the winding path that led through the summer rose garden. Instead of roses, large multi-color lights were woven into the bushes making it look like large luminescent winter flowers bloomed there. Low-light lanterns were strung overhead guiding them along the path. It was a lovely path to walk. Eventually the path led them to an open veranda with a little side fountain still bubbling merrily. Mamoru led her to a little side bench where they sat in comfortable silence.

Usagi shivered slightly in the night air and Mamoru, unthinkingly put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer. Her hair still smelled like chocolate…

The minutes ticked by and they just sat there making the occasional comment and pointing out random constellations.

Usagi was sure Mamoru was making some of them up. She never remembered learning about the Protector constellation that he pointed out. He said it was always found near the moon. He said the story behind it was that originally the Protector was a hunter that was stalking the rabbit in the moon but fell in love with the rabbit when he saw her as a woman sleeping curled up against a tree one night.

The hunter must have stepped on a branch or made a noise because the young rabbit woman bolted awake and the hunter accidentally nicked her with his arrow. The poor hunter felt so badly at ever having hurt the rabbit that he swore to become her protector for always.

"That's a nice story, but I think you made it up," Usagi stated leaning her head against his shoulder.

"So what if I did?" Mamoru asked grinning down at her.

Usagi smiled back. "I guess it doesn't really matter."

A bell tolled in the distance twelve times. Midnight.

Usagi began to sit up and stretched her arms up over her head as if reaching for the stars. She turned to look at Mamoru. "Merry Christmas, Mamoru."

Instead of wishing her a Merry Christmas as well, Mamoru leaned down to kiss her. It was a soft kiss, tentative and unsure. Usagi's eyes widened and then drifted shut. Mamoru deepened the kiss just slightly before pulling away to look at her.

She was slightly slack-jawed and her eyes were hazy and darker once she managed to lift her lids. She grinned at him. He grinned back.

"Merry Christmas, Usagi."

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A.N.: So that's it. Please tell me what you thought. I've enjoyed writing this and seeing it unfold in my head and on paper. I just hope you do too.

Merry Christmas (or whatever you happen to celebrate). I hope Santa (or whomever) brought you everything you wanted.

Hugs,

Magawa 12/26/2006