UsaMamo: 100 Examples of Everyday Love

theme #5: Short Skirt

by a quirky little tune

disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon in any way, shape, or form.

"Which one should I buy, Minako-chan?" Usagi asked, bouncing on the balls of her feet in excitement. In one hand, she held up a hanger with a cute t-shirt that had lace on the neckline and small bows at the corner of the bell-shaped sleeves; in the other, a hanger with a short pleated, grey skirt with black stitching all along the bottom edge.

The goddess of love and beauty looked up from a rack of orange sweaters and cast a critical eye over her best friend's choices. "Mm, that's a tough choice, Usagi-chan. They actually would look great together. Why not buy them both?"

Usagi looked mournfully at her. "I don't have enough allowance. I'm afraid it's one or the other today."

"Well. The top is pretty, very classy! But we're teenagers, just getting to the age where we party it up and have wacky adventures. I say go for the skirt – it's so much more fun and edgy. Plus, it'll make your legs look killer!"

Usagi moved the skirt over her hips to get an idea of how it would look on her. "Um, it's actually pretty short, Minako-chan…" The skirt fell right at the middle of her thigh.

Very seriously, Minako replied, "That's exactly why you should buy it!"

Usagi chewed on her bottom lip, uncertain.

"Odango, one klutz attack in a skirt like that, and all of Tokyo will see your delicates," came an unwanted voice from the entrance of the store.

Turning red out of a strong combination of both rage and mortification, Usagi whirled around to face the horrifying owner of that voice. "ARGH, what a perverted thing to say! Where did you come from? Who even asked you for your opinion anyway, you jerk?"

Mamoru shrugged and smirked, stepping in to join them at the floor-length mirror. "Believe it or not, Odango, I'm trying to help you out. Seriously, that skirt's too short for you."

She loathed the very idea that Mamoru could ever be right, but in this case, his words just so happened to reinforce the hesitation she already felt in buying a skirt that covered so little. Not to mention, it was all too easy to picture herself tripping over air and exposing all and sundry to Tokyo's general population.

She fumed for a second, before stashing the rejected skirt back onto a random rack. "Ugh, fine! I'm going to go buy this shirt then, Minako-chan. I'll be back in a second!" Completely ignoring the older male, she promptly marched to the back of the store, where the cash register was set up.

Minako went back to perusing the store's sweater selection. She didn't even look at Mamoru as she said, "So did this advice just came from the goodness of your heart today, Mamoru-san?"

He stared intently in the direction that Usagi had gone. "Maybe."

"So this wasn't you trying to keep Usagi-chan's modesty intact out of some overprotective, possessive feelings on your part?" she asked casually.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Never mind that he was already eyeing up some nice floor-length, long-sleeved dresses that he thought he might want to trick - er, persuade - Usagi into buying…

"Uh-huh. Sure you don't, pal."

Okay, I owe you guys a HUGE apology. I'm sorry it took me so long to post again! And this chapter is one of the shorter ones to boot! In my defense, I had to finish my Honors thesis project, complete my finals, graduate from college, move back home, apply for jobs, and go on trips to nearby cities for interviews, so it hasn't been the most relaxing few weeks. Still, I really am sorry for the delay, and promise to get back on track with these themes - especially now that Sailor Moon Crystal is out and my inspiration is nearly overwhelming these days!

Your support is invaluable to me, so please let me know what you think! LoveInTheBattlefield, Leslie wjack, and Saailor Andromeda - your reviews from last chapter were wonderful, I really appreciated your kind words! Please stay tuned, next up is theme #6: Blue Eyes!

All my love,

lovelyinksmudge