This is my first update in almost a year. I hope I can be welcomed back after disappearing for so long.

It was Motoki's birthday party. A huge deal in such a big town. Everybody knew Motoki the arcade guy and everybody loved him. It was Usagi's idea to throw the party, if Mamoru remembered correctly. She would be the only one who cared enough to invite half the town, basically everyone under 30 was coming. The only problem was should he ask her to go with him to her. Mamoru had admitted his love for the fiery blond weeks ago, but he had yet to do anything about it. Daily he berated himself for not having the guts to ask her out, or even hold the door for her.

'I wish I could confront her. For some reason my sense alludes me when I go near her."

Mamoru spent over a week deciding to ask if she was going or not. Then he realized she was planning the party, of course she would be there. He almost gave up, and probably would have if not for the sweet smile that crossed her face the next time he saw her. It was 3 days before the bash in the Arcade and she was sweet in her school uniform. He couldn't help notice that her hair was shining in the fluorescent lights; he was mesmerized by the sparkle.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Usagi never read books if she could help it, but the one she found in the library, of all places, seemed too good to be true. She borrowed Ami's library card to check it out, hers long discarded, and took it home to start reading that night. The book ended up under her bed and unread for almost a month. When she finally found it again she was thankful that Ami had such a great repore with the librarians and wouldn't receive a fine for it. She actually sat down and read the entire "How to Get Him and Keep Him" hand guide in only 6 hours.

Her first item of business was to organize a party. She needed some excuse to have a gathering of people in a place and Motoki's birthday seemed to be a great excuse. She felt bad about using him but when it comes to love, she knew there were prices to pay. Her second item of business was to get a dress. She discreetly found out his favorite color and instantly bought a thigh length cocktail dress for the event. Finally, she needed a date. Well, she had a date in mind, she just needed him to ask her and the book told her 3 simple steps to make that happen. She realized later that the author sure liked to work in threes.

She found the perfect moment one day in the Arcade. Mamoru walked into the building just as she was leaving, perfect timing. She shook out her hair and smiled sweetly at him.

---------------------------------------------------

"Usagi I wanted to ask if you were going to Motoki's birthday party with anyone?" he questioned shyly and continued when a puzzled look crossed her face. "I mean I know you live kind of far away from the Arcade and I wouldn't want you walking there on your own and all. I guess you'd have your friends with you but they all live right around here and I could drop you off at one of their homes, but it would just be easier to bring you here, in my uh car."

"Oh, I'm sorry but I already have a date Mamoru. One of my classmates asked me already, but thank you." she blushed slightly and walked past him and into the bright street. Mamoru didn't watch her go. He was rooted on the spot, a look a surprise on his face. He had assumed she would either say yes or no, never a 'thank you but I'm going to rip your heart out and go with another man'. He shook the wool from his head and turn around to leave. He could handle a no but a not good enough sliced him open and the fact that it was a younger man then he was just salt on the wounds. Usagi didn't know it but she had just turned her best weapon on him, not her smile but her scorn. He wandered back to his apartment and fell asleep on the couch.

-------------------------------------------------------

Usagi turned the corner and smiled to herself. Part 1 of the books' plan had worked. She had made him jealous and now she needed to make him fell sorry for her. She skipped home in joy and eagerly awaited the next time she would see him in the Arcade. When she went to the Arcade the next day after school and waited until closing, she realized that Mamoru wasn't coming. She was worried. It was only 1 more day until the party and she needed him to see her crying.

She went to the Arcade the next day after school, like always, but he still wasn't there. About an hour from closing she finally confronted Motoki about it.

"Hey!" she hollered across the building, "Where is that baka of yours! He's avoiding me right? To scared of getting his feelings hurt by my insults?"

She yelled in jest but really she was the one who was always getting hurt. She was the one who hoped he would just be nice for a day. She was the one who wanted his love more than anything.

"I don't know Usagi" Motoki quipped back. "I haven't seen him myself since Wednesday, but when I called he begged off sick. He did promise to come to the party though, I made him promise."

Usagi gave a silent thanks to Motoki, thanked him goodnight and went home to fix her problem. When she looked through the book, no answer came. The author had no magic 'plan b' or instant cure for the lovelorn. Usagi cried that night, realizing she had messed up big time Mamoru didn't even know it but if not for the book, she would have said yes. Usagi wanted to burn the book, but only the thought of Ami's wrath kept her from it.

---------------------------------------------------------

Mamoru came to the party an hour early to claim a booth to himself. He promised to come, but not to socialize. With him was a stunningly gorgeous, slim leather bound novel that he planned to read all night. Motoki came to say hello, but was dragged away moments later by other early guests eager to give him gifts and be the first to sing off key. Mamoru smiled slightly and buried his nose into the book.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Usagi walked into the party to a round of applause and received just as many hugs as the birthday boy. After all, she was the one who had made the party possible. Mina and Raye were immediately pulled onto the dance floor and Usagi had to bat away hands who tried to do the same to her. She would smile at them and continue walking toward the food table with Ami and Mokoto. Even down in the dumps she loved food. She suddenly jumped and was surprised at a strange hand on her behind.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Mamoru looked up at a crucial moment and saw Usagi's hands leave the grasp of some boy's. He dropped the novel and stood up in rage. The boy was barely 14 and stared after Usagi far longer then was necessary. Mamoru was about to sit down when the boy caressed her butt and she leapt in shock, like a cat that's had his tail stepped on. He surged across the room in a minimum amount of steps and picked the lad up by his shirt front.

He felt Usagi banging on his arm and wailing something. Of course his innocent Usagi would forgive him such a foul trespass when she loved him. Mamoru was tempted to punch him, throw him across the room, and run him over with his car. The boy was squirming in fear and Mamoru caught a glance of Usagi's tear stained face in time to throw the kid down unharmed.

-----------------------------------------------------

He had come to her rescue. He had come to save her. Mamoru was her hero. She felt so happy that tears started to fall and she kept calling his name. When he didn't answer, Usagi began hitting him arm to tell him she loved him too. He only turned his head slightly, but in that moment she saw nothing but pure hatred. As he threw the boy to the ground she turned on her heal and ran as fast as she could from him and the whole mess.

The crowd seemed to part before her and she made it outside before he caught up. Even though it looked like he hated her, he still came after. She turned her tear stained face and was caught up in the eyes of a starving man. Mamoru began an apology at the same time she did and both fell silent in shame. Unknown to both an crowd had gathered at the window and bets were already being placed by friends who knew the situation.

----------------------------------------------

"Usagi…..I …. I'm sorry."

"Mamoru I'm so sorry."

The silence covered the street and Usagi began to shiver. Instinctively Mamoru took off his jacket and stepped close to put it around her shoulders. Usagi shied away in shock, but Mamoru's movements insisted she take the warmth and as he settled the coat on her shoulders, he let his hands linger there. When she didn't move out of reach, he slid them to her arms and pulled the slight bundle to his chest. In the Arcade bills passed hands and her friends smiled.

Mamoru was content with holding his angel, but when she wrapped her arms around his waist he smiled in unabashed joy and gave her a squeeze. To his surprise she started to cry and buried her face in his chest. All he could do was stroke her hair and whisper sweet nothings in her ear. She clutched him like an anchor in a storm and he was satisfied with that. The window crowd slowly dispersed and minutes dropped away like flecks of water.

----------------------------------------------

"Mamoru I love you so much it hu hu hurts!" broke the perfect silence and Usagi's hushed tears ripped open the night by turning into heart wrenching sobs. "Puh please forgive me! I lied, I never had a date. I tried to tri trick you but it didn't wo work. I'm sorry I wa was mean."

She buried her face into his damp shirt and held on for dear life. She felt his arms tighten and her feet lifted fro the pavement. Mamoru scooped her legs up and carried her to his car only steps away. She heard it beeped open and the bare backs of her legs touched cold leather and she was seated in the passenger seat. When he tried to pull away, she resisted. He tugged again and she had no choice but to relent. Her eyes felt gummy and her nose sore but when she finally looked into his eyes, Mamoru was looking at her like the most beautiful creature on the Earth. Instead of moving to the driver's side he crouched down and sat on the curb, putting them at eye level to each other.

----------------------------------------------

Mamoru started to pick at a loose thread on his dress pants rather then talk to her. Every time a thought formed in his head, he felt stupid and worthless because of it. Finally he reached a hand forward and cupped her small, pale fingers in his. He kissed each one tenderly before moving onto the other hand. He could feel Usagi trembling and saw the slight upward tilt of her head. She looked so kissable that he couldn't resist.

Mamoru leaned forward and whispered in her ear, the words he'd been waiting his whole life to say. Before she could respond Mamoru placed a gently kiss on her lips and smiled inside when she kissed him back. No words were needed, he knew she loved him and everything was forgiven between the two of them. It was only when Mamoru realized his legs were cramping did he pull away. Usagi's eyes looked dazedly back at him and she broke out into uncontrollable giggles of bliss.

---------------------------------------------

"Mamoru," she began in her most plaintive voice, "Can we go back inside now?"

She saw the look of confusion cross his face and giggled again.

"Are you cold? Or hungry?" he worriedly asked.

"No, I just want to dance with you, I've been dreaming of it for weeks."

'I've been dreaming of it my whole life.' Crossed his mind, but responded only with,

"Okay Usagi. But we're not dancing to anything by Sailor V. I have draw the line somewhere." He teased and led her back into the Arcade before she could get mad at him.

Please let me know what you all think. I'd like to hear if my style has changed at all in the past year away. Thank you for reading.