Disclaimer: I do not own any Sailor Moon characters
A/N: Sorry for late update
~ASSASSIN'S LOVE~
*CHAPTER NINE – I LOVE YOU*
The morning sun rose beautifully over New York City, streaming into Makoto's hotel room. Squinting against the brightness, she raised her right hand to shield her face from the rays. She mentally kicked herself for not closing the curtains the night before, though she couldn't complain too much, given that she had been preoccupied with her girlfriend.
Turning her head slightly to the left, she noticed Minako sleeping peacefully beside her, completely unclothed. A smile crept across Makoto's face as memories of their passionate night together flooded her mind. Leaning down, she pressed a gentle kiss on Minako's temple.
"Mmm…" Minako stirred, still unable to fully wake.
Makoto couldn't help but grin at her girlfriend's adorable response. She leaned in again, showering Minako's cheeks, nose, chin, and neck with soft kisses.
The blonde let out a lazy giggle when Makoto kissed her neck. "Mako…" she playfully nudged Makoto away, but the latter continued her affectionate assault on Minako's collarbone and bare shoulder. "Stop it…" Minako laughed between giggles.
"You didn't mind last night," Makoto teased, fully engrossed in showering Minako with kisses.
With determination, Minako pushed Makoto back onto the bed, finally climbing on top of her. "Last night was different," she admonished playfully.
Makoto's gaze fell on Minako's bare chest, and a cheeky smirk appeared. "I must agree, last night was different; I couldn't see as well as I can now," she admitted, relishing the sight of her naked girlfriend.
Minako covered herself with a thin blanket and playfully whacked Makoto with her pillow. "You pervert," she laughed, sliding off the bed.
Makoto frowned at Minako's departure. "Where are you off to?" she asked, curious.
Minako turned her head slightly, sticking her tongue out playfully. "I need to use the bathroom, you silly," she replied.
Chuckling to herself, Makoto shook her head as she sank back into the mattress, staring at the ceiling above and sighing contentedly. She felt incredibly lucky to finally have Minako as her girlfriend.
-
Minako and Makoto strolled down a bustling sidewalk in New York City. They had arrived in the city the previous night after a nearly 15-hour journey from Tokyo. Makoto, wearing her sunglasses, firmly grasped Minako's hand. While Makoto had visited the city a few times before, it was Minako's first experience here.
Today was a day off for them to acclimate to the city before commencing their mission. Even though it was a leisure day for her, Makoto was still observing her surroundings to strategize for their mission, which she hadn't yet disclosed to Minako.
Suddenly, Makoto felt Minako tugging her hand. Turning her head, she noticed Minako had paused to gaze at an ice cream stall on the sidewalk. Following Minako's line of sight, Makoto smiled.
"Ice cream?" she inquired.
Minako nodded eagerly. "I haven't had it in such a long time," she said, pouting a little.
Amused by her girlfriend's adorable demeanor, the taller woman laughed. "Come on," she encouraged, leading Minako toward the stall. She addressed the stall owner, saying, "I'd like one cone, please," pointing at the picture on the wall.
The owner smiled and nodded, handing a cone to Minako, whose eyes sparkled as she took it from him. Makoto then paid the owner.
"Keep the change," she offered.
"Thank you," he replied.
Makoto and Minako slightly bowed to the man before continuing their walk down the sidewalk. Stealing a glance at her girlfriend, who was happily enjoying her ice cream, Makoto caught Minako looking back at her. With a grin, Minako pushed the ice cream toward Makoto's face. "Do you want some?" she asked, waiting to see if Makoto would accept.
Makoto glanced between Minako and the ice cream. Just as she leaned down to take a taste, Minako pulled it away, giggling sweetly as she realized she was teasing Makoto. "You have to kiss me first before I'll share."
"Really?" Makoto replied, raising an eyebrow in playful challenge. "Right here in front of everyone?"
"Yes," Minako beamed, her eyes shining.
Without hesitation, Makoto leaned in to kiss Minako. Their first kiss was soft and quick, but as she deepened it, Minako felt dizzy, lost in the intensity of the moment. When they parted, Minako realized the ice cream was now in Makoto's hand. Makoto took a graceful lick of the ice cream and leaned down again to plant another quick kiss on Minako's lips. The taste of vanilla lingered from Makoto's kiss. Handing the ice cream back to Minako, she left her girlfriend momentarily speechless.
Minako shook her head slightly. "Wow! She's incredible," she mouthed to herself, feeling helplessly smitten.
Makoto was aware of the effect her actions had on Minako. She intertwined her fingers with Minako's free hand, relishing the sensation of holding her.
As they continued walking, Minako noticed a blue-haired man staring at her. She gasped, her eyes widening. In her surprise, the ice cream slipped from her fingers and fell to the ground, prompting Makoto to look at the fallen treat and then back at Minako. "Minako? Are you alright?" she asked, her tone filled with concern.
Looking up, Minako forced a smile. "It just slipped out of my hand," she replied, trying to conceal her emotions from the brunette.
"It's okay," Makoto reassured her, helping to clean up the mess.
Minako scanned the area for the blue-haired man, but he had vanished. Deep down, she had known this moment would eventually come.
-
Minako was seated in the restaurant, perusing her menu. Makoto had mentioned that she had plans for the day, which led Minako to choose a nearby restaurant for lunch.
"What brings you here?" she inquired of the person sitting behind her.
"And what about you?" the man from the previous day shot back.
"I'm here on a mission," she answered with a hint of indifference.
The man chuckled softly. "You mean your mission to engage romantically with Kino Makoto?" he teased. Before Minako could respond, he moved to sit directly across from her, locking eyes with her striking blue gaze. "Your mission involves eliminating Kunzite, not becoming romantically involved with his top assassin," he admonished her in a low voice.
"She isn't interested in Kunzite," Minako attempted to clarify.
The man shook his head in disbelief. "That's irrelevant. You shouldn't be here at all."
"Are you suggesting I should eliminate him when Makoto isn't around?" she challenged. "He made advances towards me, but I can't go after him. He's too powerful, especially with his team by his side," Minako said, pausing. "I need his top man on my side, or at least someone to help me with this."
"So, you're implying that you are using Kino Makoto to achieve your goals?" he asked.
Minako pondered the question for a moment. Was she really leveraging Makoto to carry out her mission? She reflected on those captivating emerald eyes, the warmth and kindness Makoto had shown her, and realized she had developed deep feelings for her.
"Just give me some time, Alan," Minako spoke in a strained tone, fighting back tears as she thought of Makoto.
Alan nodded. "The boss has informed me that if you can't handle him, she'll have to initiate an attack on the location," he conveyed to Minako. Gently, he squeezed her hand. "Please be cautious, Minako," he urged, receiving a nod in response.
Alan looked at Minako one last time before rising from the table and exiting the restaurant.
Minako closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to steady herself. "Ugh!" she muttered, frustrated with herself.
-
Minako entered the hotel elevator alongside several other guests. After pressing the button for her floor, she leaned against the wall, allowing the others to select their own destinations. One by one, the guests exited the elevator, and since her and Makoto's room was the Presidential Suite on the top floor, Minako found herself among the last remaining occupants. Her thoughts wandered back to a mission she had been involved with for years.
Suddenly, a bouquet of three red roses appeared before her, prompting her to realize she wasn't alone. She lifted her gaze to the person holding the flowers and her eyes widened with surprise at the sight of Makoto smiling down at her.
"How did you get here?" Minako asked, still astonished that Makoto was in the elevator with her.
"I wanted to call out to you before we got in, but you seemed lost in thought, so I decided to give you some space," Makoto explained. "Now that it's just us, I'm concerned about you."
Minako remained silent, her gaze locked on Makoto's emerald eyes, which spoke volumes. A pang of sadness hit her at the thought of her mission and Makoto, and tears began to well up in her eyes.
Seeing Minako on the verge of tears confused Makoto. Instinctively, she pulled Minako into a comforting embrace. Minako cried harder against her, prompting a worried response from Makoto. "Did I say something wrong?"
Minako shook her head while still nestled against Makoto's chest.
The elevator doors opened on their floor. Makoto bent down and lifted Minako into her arms, surprising her with her strength. Minako wrapped her arms around Makoto's neck as she was carried toward their room, resting her head against her shoulder.
Makoto managed to open the door gracefully, even though it was a bit challenging with Minako in her arms. Once they were inside, she walked over to the bed and gently set Minako down. She gave her a quick kiss on the lips.
"Just take a moment to rest, okay?" Makoto said, her sweet smile bringing a sense of calm to Minako.
Makoto then walked to the mini-bar and rummaged through the fridge. A moment later, she returned to the bed with a glass of water, handing it to Minako.
"This will help you relax," Makoto assured her.
Minako took the glass and thanked her. As she sipped the water, Makoto knelt in front of her, watching intently. Minako felt a warm blush spread on her cheeks under Makoto's gentle gaze.
After finishing her drink, Makoto beamed at her. "Are you feeling any better?" she asked, raising an eyebrow in anticipation of Minako's answer.
The blonde nodded slightly, still aware of the warmth in her cheeks from Makoto's gaze.
"Great," Makoto said, taking the empty glass from Minako's hands. She stood up, ready to place the glass back on the counter, but Minako halted her with a gentle touch on her hand. Confused, Makoto turned to Minako.
"Mako…"
"Hmm?"
Their eyes met. "You gave me three red roses," Minako remarked, the bouquet resting on her lap. "I love you," she confessed.
Tears sparkled in Makoto's eyes upon hearing Minako's words. She knelt closer to Minako, searching her blue eyes for confirmation. "Do you really?" she asked.
Minako nodded, a smile spreading across her face. "Yes," she affirmed.
A broad smile brightened Makoto's features as she saw the honesty in Minako's beautiful blue eyes. "I love you too," she replied just before Minako kissed her passionately.
~