Shout out to gabicg1 for also reviewing, your fanfic's are great by the way!
Also, I hate to admit it, but I am slightly tipsy writing this. I'm going to my boyf's tomorrow and I'm celebrating with pre-party cocktails! If there are any stupid mistakes, they will be fixed promptly. PM me if you see one. :)
Usagi dabbed lipgloss on her lips and attempted to tuck the loose curls back into her buns with no avail. She looked over at her alarm clock for the umpteenth time and saw only a minute had passed since she had last looked.
"Seriously Usagi, who are you meeting with?" Luna asked from Usagi's bed.
"No one, I'm meeting with no one. I'm just making myself pretty today."
"A little too pretty if you ask me. Is it a boy?" Luna teased.
Usagi couldn't stop the blush from rising to her cheeks.
"I knew it! Who is it? Is it Tuxedo Kamen?" Luna asked. "No, I doubt that."
"Tuxedo...Kamen…" Usagi mumbled.
"I'm so confused, I love Tuxedo Kamen. I know I do! But when I was with Mamoru the other day...I felt safer than I ever have with Tuxedo Kamen. I don't know what to do, I know I'm not exactly in a relationship with him...but I feel wrong for seeing Mamoru today. I know he said it wasn't a date, but it feels wrong. I'm just so confused."
"Didn't you say you were heading out at 1pm?" Luna asked.
Usagi looked over at her clock and saw it was 1:10pm. Usagi squealed, grabbed her bag, and dashed to the front door. She didn't want her parents meeting Mamoru when he picked her up because she didn't want them to think she was going on a date. She yelled a goodbye to her Mother and slammed the door behind her. She'd barely taken two steps before she crashed into something firm but soft.
"Ouch! Watch it Odango!"
Usagi looked up at glared at her companion for the day. "You really need to stop calling me that."
Mamoru gave her a confused look, then realised what he said. He gave her a cheeky smile. "Sorry there Usagi, I'm still not used to it. Can't I call you Odango sometimes?"
Usagi pouted, but considered it. She didn't mind of it was just "Odango", it almost sounded cute.
"Sure, but only sometimes." She poked his chest for emphasis.
"Sure, sure." Mamoru brushed her comment off. "So what do you want to do, Milady?"
Usagi was caught off guard, she hadn't even thought about what she wanted to do! She was too worried thinking about Tuxedo Kamen.
"Tuxedo Kamen…"
"Earth to Odango?" Mamoru asked.
"Ice-cream." Usagi blurted out.
"What?"
"Take me to get ice-cream, please." Usagi repeated.
"Sure, anything the lady wants." Mamoru said, offering her his arm once again.
Usagi took it without thinking twice.
"Of all things...ice-cream?! It's cold today! But, at least it's something. I seriously need to keep my mind on today. Not on Tuxedo Kamen.
"Tuxedo Kamen…"
"Usagi, you're starting to worry me." Mamoru said, knocking her back into reality. "You're being quiet...again."
"Sorry Mamoru!" Usagi blushed. "I'm trying so hard! But I'm a little preoccupied."
"With what? If there's something bothering you, I'm more than happy to help you."
"He's being so kind…"
"There's...a guy…"
"Yeah?"
"I don't know him very well. I know him through a friend. You remember how I once said I knew Sailor Moon?"
"Once, vaguely, why?"
"She told me about him. He's kind, strong, and dashing. I'm worried though."
"About what, Odango?"
"That he might see us together. That he may think I'm dating you. I don't want that to happen."
Usagi felt Mamoru's arm tense, and she looked up at him to see him glaring straight in front of him. The look in his eyes almost scared her.
"Who is this guy? Tell me about him, I'd like to hear."
"Liar...you don't...but why?"
"His name is...Kamen."
"Kamen?"
"Yeah, odd. He's really charming, and he's like a knight in shining armour."
"You should get to know someone before you try to pursue them Usagi, it's the smartest thing to do. Otherwise, how will he know that you truly care?"
Usagi was surprised, Mamoru sounded so wise. Like he knew what he was talking about.
Usagi wanted to lighten the mood, so she smirked. "You sound like you're pining after someone, Mamoru."
Mamoru shrugged, a new emotion Usagi couldn't name washed over his face. "You could say that."
Usagi's attempt at lightening the mood failed, but luckily they arrived at a cute Ice-Cream Parlour just in time for her to change the subject.
"I'm going to get butterscotch ice-cream!" She declared happily. "What will Mamo-chan get?"
"Mamo-chan?" Mamoru asked with a smirk.
Usagi realised what she had said. "Oh I'm so sorry, don't you like it? I give nicknames to lots of people, I'm sorry. I should have asked."
"No, it's fine. Mamo-chan is fine...Odango."
Usagi smiled. "Now answer the question!"
Mamoru tapped his chin. "Probably chocolate. I like chocolate."
"Me too!" Usagi squealed in delight. "Well, I like any type of ice-cream."
Mamoru laughed. "I'm not surprised."
Mamoru bought their ice-creams and they sat on the bench outside the parlour to eat them. Usagi insisted to have a scoop of Mamoru's ice-cream every few mouthfuls, but he never asked for hers in return. He simply passed her his cup every few bites to let her have her way with it.
When the were finished, Usagi told Mamoru of her desire to buy a new pair of shoes but she didn't have the funds for the pair she had her eye on. Mamoru guessed what shop it was and he got it the first try! Usagi was bewildered!
"Mamo-chan you don't need to buy me the shoes." Usagi pouted as Mamoru handed the money to the cashier.
"Anything for milady." Mamoru smiled. "This is your day."
They were a pair of black heels with ballet ribbons around the ankle, Usagi looked pretty in them. After barely 10 minutes of walking around town, Usagi insisted that her feet hurt and that she didn't want to walk anymore. Mamoru offered a piggyback, and Usagi jumped onto his back with a blush covering her cheeks.
She had never been this close to someone before, let alone a boy, let alone Mamoru! She could feel the pulse in his neck, the heat of his back seeping into her chest, the smell of his cologne lingering in the air.
It was relaxing, comforting, it felt right.
Usagi rested her head on the back of Mamoru's neck and her breathing synced with his. She felt beyond comfortable, she didn't want to stir every again, but had to when Mamoru suddenly stopped. She felt like she was jolted from a dream, maybe she was, she wouldn't put it past her if she had fallen asleep.
"You were asleep Odango, so I thought I'd chose the next place. I hope it's okay." Mamoru said to her softly.
Usagi looked over his head and saw rides and heard children's laughter. The amusement park.
"B-but Mamo-chan...the amusement park is on the opposite side of town…" Usagi was stunned.
Mamoru shrugged, repositioning Usagi at the same time. "Gym pays off. Come on, I have VIP tickets for the ferris wheel. Interested?"
"Where did you-"
"Are you interested, Usagi?" Mamoru asked again, turning his head to look her in the eye. His eyes were bright and shining, Usagi was captivated.
"Yes." She felt herself say, but her voice never reached her ears. Besides feeling the words leave her throat, the reason she knew she had said something was Mamoru suddenly walked in the direction of the wheel.
The line for the ride was reasonably short, Mamoru admitted that he finally needed to put Usagi down, and they waited for their turn. Mamoru flashed his tickets and he walked straight onto the ride. He sat down and offered Usagi his hand.
"Be careful getting on, there's a gap."
Usagi took his hand and climbed into the ride, sitting on the opposite seat. They waited only minutes before the ride started to slowly turn. Usagi had never been on a ferris wheel before, and was captivated by the view once they reached a quarter of the way around the circle.
"It's beautiful up here Mamo-chan!" Usagi beamed, looking out at the city. She saw the street lights begin to flicker on, and only then did she realise it was beginning to get dark out. She turned to Mamoru. "How long was I asleep for?"
"A few hours, I did stop by the park and put you down for a while to catch my breath." Mamoru replied.
"You should have woken me up, I'm sorry Mamo-chan." Usagi said, bowing her head. She felt Mamoru's hand rest in between her buns and slowly stroke her hair.
"It's okay Usagi, it was worth it."
"You back must ache!" Usagi insisted, shooting her head up and knocking Mamoru's hand off her head in the process.
Mamoru flashed Usagi a smile, one she had never seen before. It took her breath away.
"You're worth it, Usagi."
"But...why…?" Usagi couldn't breathe.
"Usagi, I have been wanting to tell you this for a while, I had been intent of keeping it as a secret, but seeing you almost every day broke my heart. I couldn't take it. I have to tell you before my heart well and truly breaks." Mamoru said, taking her hand in his and caressing the back of it with his thumb. "I like you Usagi, I like you a lot. I know I wasn't very good at showing it, but being nasty to you was the only way I could keep your attention. All those things I said, I feel so awful for. I never wanted to be as mean as I was. For that, I'm sorry. Forgive me, Usagi. Please, become my girlfriend, Usagi."
Usagi couldn't breathe, all she could do was stare at Mamoru. She felt like her heart wasn't beating, and she didn't understand.
"M-Mamoru…" She whispered.
Mamoru kissed the back of her hand. His lips were gentle and feather-like.
"Let me show you how much I care for you, Usagi. I'll do anything for you. Anything."
Usagi could only think of one thing.
"Keep it a secret."
"Keep...what?" Mamoru asked softly.
"Keep it a secret, this thing between us." Usagi said. "I think...I don't know yet...I think I feel something for you too Mamoru. I don't know whether these feelings belong to you, or whether it's because you remind me of Kamen, but if we're going to have something I want it to be a secret."
Mamoru smiled. "Anything for you...Usagi…"
Mamoru leaned closer, ever so slowly, and the view Usagi had been admiring was far from her mind. She remained completely still as Mamoru leaned close to her, resting his head on her shoulder and slowly pressing his lips against her neck. She felt warm all over, yet cold at the same time, and desired being closer to him. Like he had read her mind, he grabbed her by the elbows and dragged her into his lap - sitting side saddle. His lips remained on Usagi's neck, his arms around her waist. She rested her hand on his shoulder and rested her head atop of his.
"He really cares about me...he really does...I can feel it in my bones."
"Usagi, Usagi, Usagi…" Mamoru whispered against her neck, making the girl shiver.
The ride suddenly jolted to a stop, and Usagi turned to look out the window. They were at ground level and the door was open.
"Mamo-chan, it's over."
"No, Usagi, it's beginning."