Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Happily Ever After or Something Like That ❯ Love Takes Time ( Chapter 21 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: deadlydiva 
Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 01.11.2006 | Updated On: 08.20.2006 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.1K | Visits: 262 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 01.11.2006 | Updated On: 08.20.2006 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.1K | Visits: 262 | Status: Work In Progress
Usagi smiled as the object of her desire came into her sight. Her motions were almost automatic as she removed the carton of chocolate ice cream from the freezer. Closing the freezer, Usagi caught a glimpse of a photograph of her and Mamoru. The keepsake in its magnetic frame was from the ‘I’m sorry Minako’ dinner that Kunzite held at Jove’s Garden the previous week. When Usagi thought back on that night, she giggled. Having the inside track, through her husband, she knew that Kunzite was trying to convince Minako to take his proposal seriously. Kunzite tried explaining that even though he was cursed with bad timing, he meant every word he said in Jove’s Garden that fateful night in front of Yaten. Minako, hesitant to believe the verbal professions of her ruthless other half, remained irritatingly aloof. Usagi remembered watching Kunzite quietly pleading with Minako. At the end of the night Kunzite still had not gotten the desired answer, but at least Minako did not flat out turn him down.
Usagi’s prayer had not changed since she and Mamoru married. She wanted her senshi to find love and happiness in this life. She wanted them to claim the lives that were stolen from them so very long ago. Living well was always the best revenge. They deserved that much. Usagi herself had settled into married life quite well. Granted, Mamoru still did most of the cooking, but she was getting better. At least most of the food she attempted to cook did not come out scorched. As if on cue, the ice cream scoop, which had been placed neatly next to the carton of ice cream, managed to roll off the counter. The resulting crash got the attention of Usagi’s beloved.
“Usako, is everything ok in there?”
Usagi giggled. She found it cute, and a bit disturbing, that Mamoru still worried about her safety in the kitchen. It wasn’t like she set the house on fire. Though there was the time she tried to make fried tofu without spousal supervision.
“I’m fine Mamo-chan. It’s gonna take more than a runaway scoop to do me in.” Usagi reached for the ice cream scoop, and took it to the sink for an obligatory washing. “Mamo-chan, are you sure that you don’t want any. It’s chocolate chocolate-chip.”
Usagi paused, waiting for her husband’s reply. Silence was her answer. Usagi shrugged her shoulders. She really didn’t want to give him any. Though she loved her husband, this was chocolate chocolate-chip ice cream. Usagi added her trademark whipped cream mountain and walked out of the kitchen.
The faint squeaking of the kitchen door alerted Mamoru that his beloved was returning to him. He lifted his eyes from his newspaper slightly, just to make sure that she didn’t trip over anything. Despite all the dance classes attended, martial arts techniques learned and the good old-fashioned maturity that time afforded, Usagi was still prone to klutz attacks, especially when there was ice cream involved. He watched her intently, not wavering until she sat beside him.
“Are you sure you don’t want some Mamo-chan?” Usagi suggestively licked her spoon, savoring the rich smooth chocolate concoction.
Mamoru nervously cleared his throat. He knew that look. It was a most animalistic gaze, threatening and extremely dangerous. It was a brave man indeed that would attempt to come between Usagi and her ice cream.
“No, enjoy your ice cream. I’m fine with my cup of coffee.”
Usagi shook her head. She still could not comprehend her husband’s obsession with the foul black liquid. It didn’t even smell appetizing. In fact, it was starting to make her nauseous.
“Mamo-chan--” Usagi began taking long deep breaths, attempting to ease her stomach.
Mamoru, hearing his wife’s strained voice, was quick to react. He leapt from the couch and dashed to the kitchen. His once cherished beverage met its fate down the Chiba family drain. After spraying odor neutralizer, Mamoru made his way back to Usagi.
“I’m sorry. I forgot.” Mamoru sheepishly apologized, silently hoping that his boyish grin would save him from a night on the couch.
“Don’t worry about it.” Usagi bout with nausea was quickly forgotten as the chill from the bowl reminded her than there was ice cream to be eaten. As she ate her ice cream, a less than pleased look took residence on her face. Even in her ice-cream induced bliss, the plight of one of her best friends was ever present.
“Usako, what’s wrong?” Mamoru knelt in front of Usagi, taking the bowl from her.
“Nothing, I was just thinking.” The memory of Kunzite’s dinner party troubled Usagi. Two of her most important people were not there for what she thought were ridiculous reasons. Ami claimed that she had an early morning appointment and therefore could not attend. Zoicite simply stated that he would not be able to handle it if Ami showed up with Taiki. At least he was honest with himself. Usagi did not understand why Ami did not tell the truth and admit she loved Zoicite.
Mamoru gave Usagi a sidelong glance. He could see that something was bothering her. After all this time, it still got to him that she felt the need to protect him. It was his job to do the protecting. Heck, even his name, Mamoru, let people know that he was the protector.
“Usako, are you going to tell me what’s wrong or will I have to resort to drastic measures?” Mamoru held up his right hand, wriggling his fingers. The mischievous grin on his face indicated that he intended to make good on his threat if Usagi did not comply.
Usagi placed her bowl on the coffee table. Slowly inching away from her husband, Usagi started making threats of her own.
“You don’t really want to do that, do you?” Usagi reached behind her, feeling around for something to protect her from Mamoru.
“I don’t want to, but it seems you leave me no choice.”
Mamoru lunged toward Usagi, easily capturing his prey. He mercilessly tickled his wife, her pleas for leniency falling on deaf ears. Mamoru enjoyed watching his Usako writhe beneath him. Her innocence, in conjunction with a raw sensuality that even Usagi did not know she exuded, compelled Mamoru to find any reason to touch her, to be near her. In a move that would have made Tuxedo Kamen proud, Mamoru deftly spun his wife around so that she was sitting on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and gave her one more chance to tell him what was on her mind. Usagi was too proud to give in to her husband after such a short amount of time. She shook her head defiantly. Mamoru shrugged his shoulders, commenting that she brought it upon herself. Usagi’s laughter rang out through the house, nearly drowning out the sound of the doorbell.
“Mamo-chan, someone’s at the door.” Usagi barely managed to squeak out the sentence between laughs and gasps for air. The bell rang again. “Mamo-chan, the door.” Usagi’s voice was more insistent this time.
Mamoru reluctantly released Usagi. Tentatively, Usagi rose from her husband’s lap, making sure that he would not pull her back just as she thought that she got away. She looked back at Mamoru as she reached the door, a victorious smile on her face. Breathing heavily, Usagi opened the front door. Her messy hair and flushed skin made for an interesting site.
“Are we interrupting?” Rei, true to form, raised an eyebrow questioningly.
“If we were interrupting, do you really think she would have opened the door?” Jadeite pushed his way past Rei and Usagi to speak with Mamoru.
“So what exactly was going on before we showed up?”
The little rabbit shifted a bit under the weight of Rei’s stare. “Nothing. Mamoru decided to tickle the truth out of me.”
Rei chuckled. “Tickle torture. It must have been something pretty big for him to resort to that.”
Usagi’s eyes suddenly lost their radiance. Rei knew she was right. Something was heavily pressing on Usagi’s mind.
“Usagi-chan--”
“It’s nothing. Really.” Usagi plastered a less than sincere smile on her face, hoping that her hot-tempered friend would leave well enough alone for once.
As Rei poised herself to respond, Usagi caught sight of another person on the porch.
“Zoicite, what are you doing here?”
Usagi saw Rei look back at the distraught young man and was never so grateful that Rei’s manipulations of fire did not include the ability to shoot flames from her eyes.
The distraught young man walked up to Usagi, head bowed. He glanced up briefly and then walked into the house. Despair and defeat colored his features. Dark circles eclipsed his once bright eyes. His long hair was dull and frizzy. It looked like he had given up on living. Usagi noticed and her heart bled for him. Her eyes followed him as he bypassed the men on the couch to take solace in the kitchen.
“He’s been like that for over a week.” Rei’s voice, though full of compassion, was straining not to let her frustration show. “Zoicite showed up at the temple about a week ago to talk to Jay. Ever since he’s been there everyday, moping and sighing. I’m not sure how much more I can take.”
“Rei,” Usagi admonished, “He’s going through a lot right now.”
“I know!” Rei quipped. “I know.” Her posture changed slightly, shoulders slumping. Rei, as well as Usagi, knew the cause of his problem. It was easier to blame Zoicite than to openly admit that for the first time, Ami may have made a big mistake.
Mamoru and Jadeite watched as Zoicite walked into the kitchen. His feet barely made a sound as he crossed from the carpeted living room to the linoleum-tiled kitchen.
“Jadeite, how long has he been like that?” Mamoru asked, not taking his eyes off the door that separated the kitchen from the living room.
“Since the last time he spoke to Ami,” Jadeite replied.
“And when was that?”
“Two weeks ago.”
* * * * *
Ami absentmindedly thumbed through her birth plan, which resembled a corporate contract complete with clauses, provisions and an exit strategy. She addressed every possible situation from premature labor to stillbirth. Ami knew that nothing could actually prepare her for what she was about to undergo. However, that did not stop her from trying. Upon reading the last page, Ami put the document on the floor in front of her. She had enough of reading it. In a move that would have made Usagi proud, Ami grabbed her remote control and turned on a sappy soap opera.
“Ami-chan, who would have thought you’d be the type to watch this stuff?” Laughter laced
Taiki’s words. Ami could not help but notice that he looked happy, almost excited.
“And where do you think you are going young man?”
“I’m headed to Acid.”
Ami cocked her head to the side. She hadn’t been out in a while. Acid was not a familiar name.
“It’s a new club that Yaten opened.”
“Yaten?”
Taiki nodded, then walked over to the mirror to give himself one last look before leaving, He smoothed his boot cut jeans and picked a piece of lint off his long sleeve graphic tee shirt. As Taiki retrieved his leather jacket from the closet, he heard Ami whistle at him.
“Missing your days as an idol I see.”
Taiki blushed slightly. “I’m just going out for a couple of drinks.” He walked over to the quite pregnant water senshi and placed a platonic kiss on her forehead. Taiki was taken aback by the look on Ami’s face. She appeared wishful and sad at the same time. Her blue eyes were glazed over with tears she refused to shed. Quickly blinking them back, Ami smiled at Taiki.
“Ami-chan,” Taiki began tentatively, “Is everything alright?”
Nodding her head nervously, Ami attempted to reassure Taiki that all was well. Pregnancy hormones became her catchall excuse anytime she did not want to deal with her emotions. She did not want him to cancel his plans again because of her. Ami had realized that she was going to have to learn to live with the choices that she made. Leaning on Taiki had made it all too easy to pretend that everything was fine. Denial was a state in which she could no longer live. Regret was a town that she would no longer visit. In a matter of months, she would have another person depending on her. Ami needed to be strong for her child.
Taiki did not believe that everything was fine. The strained smile on Ami’s face was enough to let anyone know that everything was not fine. Yet, he knew that pressing the issue would do nothing but exacerbate the problem. He sighed, hating that he could not help Ami. The only person capable of helping Ami was Ami. Turning to leave, Taiki saw a black ring box glaring at him from the coffee table. Its presence was a silent testament to Ami’s indecision. He picked up the box, cradling it in the palm of his hand.
“Do you intend to give Zoicite an answer? Even if you don’t want to marry him, he deserves an answer.”
Ami sighed and covered her face with her hands. “I can’t. I’ve waited too long.”
“What are you talking about? He told you to take all the time you needed.”
“No Taiki. I waited too long. I know he thinks that I don’t want to marry him. I’ve missed my chance.”
Taiki knelt down in front of Ami, placing his hands over hers. “Ami-chan, I love you, but it was your assumptions that got you in this mess. How about we leave the fortune telling to Rei?” He opened one of her hands and placed the ring box on her palm. “What you need to do is go get your man and be happy. All this moping does not suit you.”
“But what about you Taiki? What will happen to you if Zoicite and I get back together.”
Taiki grinned. “Hopefully, you won’t be the only one to get your man.” With a mischievous wink, Taiki walked out the door, leaving an amused Ami to pray for the young man Taiki was after.
* * * * *
Zoicite had found just enough energy to leave the kitchen and make his way to Mamoru’s study. With a high backed leather chair as his vantage point, Zoicite stared at an imaginary spot on the wall. Each day that passed without word from Ami brought Zoicite closer to madness. He berated himself for leaving it up to Ami. Part of him was certain that she had once again fled the country to avoid dealing with him. As he sat in his semi-meditative state, Zoicite questioned his motivations. He had resigned himself to a life without Ami, but then he found out about the child she was carrying. Was Ami right? Was he doing this out of obligation? Zoicite vigorously shook his head. He loved Ami long before she became pregnant. Ever since her abrupt departure from his life, Zoicite had been trying to find a way to win her back. If only he could make her see what he felt. Zoicite’s train of thought had been derailed once his host and liege entered the study.
“Zoicite, what are you doing in here?” Mamoru asked gently.
“Just thinking.”
Jadeite sighed most audibly. “And what has thinking done for you lately? You need to go to Ami and demand an answer.”
“I can’t do that Jadeite. I left it up to her.”
Jadeite huffed. Zoicite’s need adhere to rules of decorum, even at his own expense, was infuriating. “What the hell do you mean you can’t?! You can and you should. Anything is better than not knowing.”
“Jadeite!” While Mamoru agreed with Jadeite, he knew that badgering Zoicite was counterproductive. He glared at his loud-mouthed companion.
“Zoicite,” Jadeite’s voice softened under the intensely fierce look of Mamoru, “All I’m trying to say is that anything worth having is worth fighting for.”
Mamoru nodded in silent agreement.
* * * * *
Rei nudged Usagi’s bowl of half melted ice cream with her finger. “All this chocolate can not be good for one person.”
Usagi rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue. Rei, and everyone else, had been telling her that since she was fourteen. She did not listen then, and she had no intention of doing so now. In an act of comical defiance, Usagi filled her mouth to capacity with the gooey mess. Rei shook her head. She could not begin to articulate how ridiculous Usagi looked at the moment. Amusedly, Rei watched as Usagi carefully swallowed the ice cream she shoved in her mouth. A wayward glance toward the hall brought back the reason that Rei was there.
“So, when was the last time you spoke to Ami?” Rei asked once Usagi’s mouth was emptied of its contents.
Usagi shook her head. “It’s been a few weeks, before Zoicite proposed.” Usagi lifted her spoon to her lips and decided against it. Instead, she continued speaking. “You know she’s making a mistake.”
“It’s her mistake to make Usagi. There’s nothing that any of us can do about it.”
“I know, but still. I can’t understand why she’s doing this. Why didn’t Ami tell us about the baby? We would have been there for her. Zoicite would have been there for her. Why didn’t she just tell us?”
Rei sighed discontentedly. At one time, same thoughts plagued her whenever she saw Zoicite. Rei may not have agreed with what Ami did, but part of her understood. She slowly began to answer her friend.
“From what Makoto told me, Ami did not want Zoicite to feel bound to her because of the baby. She wanted his love, not obligation. According to Makoto, she still loves him. Ami just didn’t want Zoicite to think that she was trying to trap him.”
Usagi was uncharacteristically silent. She could remember similar feelings over Mamoru. For longer than she would like to admit, Usagi wondered if Mamoru loved her or was with her because the past they shared and the future they were to create. Her heart insisted that Mamoru loved Usagi and their shared past only served to strengthen their relationship. Her head had a different take on the situation. The battle within her finally ended when Usagi realized that the past was memory that could not be changed and the future was yet to come. She had to concentrate on what was before her at this moment.
“Usagi…” Rei was worried about the look on Usagi’s face. She seemed on the verge of tears.
“I get it now. I understand.”
* * * * *
Ami sat with the ring box in her hand. She stared at it for a while before gaining the courage to open it. She chided herself for fearing the box’s contents. A ring could not hurt her. It was simply a man-made combination of stone and metal. It held no power unless she gave it willingly. Slowly she opened the box. The ring sat shining brilliantly, as if it had forgiven Ami for sentencing it to an existence within the closed container. The room had become a multi-tonal light show in the shade of blue. Ami snapped the box shut and threw it onto the coffee table. She was convinced that she was losing her mind. Damn Taiki and his talk of full disclosure!
Frustrated, Ami pushed herself off the couch. She decided that some fresh air would clear her head. After placing the ring box in her purse, Ami grabbed her jacket and headed out the door. She thought a walk through the park was a good idea until she saw how dark it was. Juuban Park was one of the safest in the city, but Ami did not want to risk being that one person who got hurt there after dark. Ami decided that driving past the park on her way to Crown was just as good as walking though the park.
“Let me guess, one scoop of vanilla.”
“You know what, make it two.”
Motoki looked at Ami strangely. She never ordered more than one of anything. Knowing better than to ask what inspired the sudden increase in appetite, Motoki walked away to get Ami’s order.
As she waited, Ami opened her purse to retrieve her PDA and was confronted once again with Zoicite’s ring. She knew that she had to make a decision one way or another.
“Motoki!” Ami called out, “Can you make that to go and add in an Odango special?”
“An Odango special?!? That’s seven scoops of ice cream!”
“I’m going to see Usagi and you know how she gets about ice cream. I just thought I’d save myself from hearing her beg for mine.”
* * * * *
“So have you heard the latest about Minako and Kunzite?” Rei shook her head no.
“Apparently, Kunzite bought the house next to Minako and intends to expand Minako’s place
after they get married.”
Rei nearly dropped the magazine she was leafing through. “That man is nothing if not persistent. Was he always prone to such grandiose gestures, or has Minako finally driven him mad?”
Usagi and Rei were sharing a laugh at Kunzite’s expense when the doorbell rang.
“Are you expecting company Odango?”
“Rei-chan, I have not worn my hair like that since the first year of high school.” Usagi stuck out her tongue and went to answer the door. Suffice it to say that this was one visitor she was not expecting. Usagi flashed a panicked look toward Rei and then toward Mamoru’s study.
“Usagi-chan, I need your help.” Ami flung her arms around Usagi. “I come bearing gifts.” Ami handed Usagi her very own piece of Crown, the dessert that had been dubiously named after her.
“Is this an Odango special?”
“Usagi…” Rei shook her head in disbelief as Usagi tore into the oversized concoction.
“I know I should have called, but I was already out and decided to pay you a visit.” Ami said as she sat herself on the couch. “I can’t believe what a mess I’ve made. I don’t think I’ll be able to fix it.”
“What mess?” Rei asked innocently.
Ami pointed at her pregnant belly and continued speaking. “I thought I was doing the right thing not telling Zoicite. I wanted him to be with me because he loved me, not because he got me pregnant. I guess part of me was just too afraid of the possibility that he did love me. Losing him the first time was too painful for me to risk that happening again.”
Zoicite’s silent mediation was interrupted by a soft voice. His head jerked up and he dashed toward the door of the study. Opening the door slowly, Zoicite held his breath as he waited to hear the voice again. He was certain it was Ami.
“What’s going on Zoi?” Mamoru asked.
“Shh…Ami’s here and she’s talking to Usagi. I need to hear what she’s saying.” Zoicite took a few cautious steps toward the living room, but remained out of sight. This was the first time that he knew of Ami openly discussing her feelings. He did not want to shock her back into silence.
“When Zoicite returned, I tried to avoid him and the feelings that he brought out. My heart wanted to have him near, but my mind kept reminding me of how he betrayed me. For the first time in my life I was confused and I didn’t like it.”
Usagi and Rei tried to interrupt Ami’s cathartic monologue to tell her that the object of her affection was down the hall. Each time they opened their mouths, Ami talked over them, ignoring their attempts to speak.
“Then one day, he caught me with that smile of his. At that moment, I knew that he was the man that I wanted to be with; there isn’t anyone else in the world who I’ll ever love as much as him.”
Sometime during her speech, Ami found herself holding Zoicite’s ring. She wasn’t sure how it got out of her purse and into her clenched fist, but that did not matter. All that matter to Ami at that point was Zoicite.
Usagi smiled a knowing smile. “I don’t see what the problem is. You love Zoicite and it’s more than obvious that he loves you.”
“Usagi-chan, I think I may have lost my chance with him.” Ami opened her fist. “He gave me this ring over weeks ago. I never responded. I left it in the spot he where placed it and stared at it for two weeks. I want to marry Zoicite. That’s what I’ve always wanted. Look at this ring. It’s a replica of the engagement ring his father gave to his mother. Zoicite gave his mother’s ring to me before the battle with Metallia. Then he had it remade in this lifetime to give to me again.”
Ami’s voice began to break. “That should have been enough for me. But it wasn’t. I needed proof of his love. I needed evidence of his devotion. Damn scientific process.”
Zoicite was barely able to contain himself as he listened to Ami. Unnoticed by Ami, he walked into the living room. “I’ll make you a deal. You put on that ring and we’ll call it even.”
Ami spun around to see a smiling Zoicite standing behind her. She then cast her heated gaze upon Rei and Usagi. “Why didn’t you two tell me he was here?”
“We tried to,” Rei quipped, “But is seems that you developed Minako’s ability to speak at length without stopping to take a breath.”
Zoicite quickly found himself seated next to Ami. He took the ring from her hand and slid it onto her ring finger. He then kissed Ami on the forehead and drew her into his arms.
“I’ve missed you so much,” he whispered. Ami replied by engaging him in a soul-searing kiss.
“Okay break it up you two! You don’t want me to get the hose.” Jadeite yelled as he and Mamoru joined the mini celebration.
Mamoru sat next to Usagi and pulled her into his lap. Lazily, he placed his hands on her abdomen, thankful that Zoicite and Ami worked things out. Being orphaned taught Mamoru that every child deserved an intact happy family. He placed a tender kiss on his wife’s temple and smiled as he watched Zoicite dote on Ami.
Jadeite attempted to embrace Rei in vain. She swatted his arms away, making a comment about not wanting him touching her. Jadeite’s smile faded in the face of Rei’s cruelty. How anyone could witness such a scene and still be so mean was beyond him.
“Jadeite, stop pouting. It’ll give you wrinkles.” Rei winked at her beloved and motioned for him to give her hug. It was a request that he readily fulfilled.
Ami found her attention split between her fiancé and her friends. She could not believe that she had put so much distance between herself and the people who cared the most about her. She wasted so much time being scared, time that she could never give back. Ami thought about the last time she saw any of them. So much had changed. Apparently, the fire within Rei was consuming her because her trademark onyx locks now had subtle red highlights. It was that or Minako finally got Rei to agree to dabble in a bit of hair color. Jadeite finally got his swagger back and was able to go toe to toe with the miko that held his heart. Mamoru looked more content than usual, though there was a feral gleam in his eyes. His posture resembled that of Endymion during the last days of the Silver Millennium more so than the Mamoru she had grown to love and respect in this time. The arms that embraced Usagi appeared gentle, but his back was rigid, as if waiting for someone or something to strike. Usagi looked up at her husband and whispered something that made him smile. Ami noticed that Mamoru’s eyes softened, but his hands never left her body. He was in protector mode, but Ami did not know why. Ami gasped as she finally realized.
“Ami-chan, what’s wrong?” Usagi asked.
“By the goddess, you’re pregnant.”
Usagi’s prayer had not changed since she and Mamoru married. She wanted her senshi to find love and happiness in this life. She wanted them to claim the lives that were stolen from them so very long ago. Living well was always the best revenge. They deserved that much. Usagi herself had settled into married life quite well. Granted, Mamoru still did most of the cooking, but she was getting better. At least most of the food she attempted to cook did not come out scorched. As if on cue, the ice cream scoop, which had been placed neatly next to the carton of ice cream, managed to roll off the counter. The resulting crash got the attention of Usagi’s beloved.
“Usako, is everything ok in there?”
Usagi giggled. She found it cute, and a bit disturbing, that Mamoru still worried about her safety in the kitchen. It wasn’t like she set the house on fire. Though there was the time she tried to make fried tofu without spousal supervision.
“I’m fine Mamo-chan. It’s gonna take more than a runaway scoop to do me in.” Usagi reached for the ice cream scoop, and took it to the sink for an obligatory washing. “Mamo-chan, are you sure that you don’t want any. It’s chocolate chocolate-chip.”
Usagi paused, waiting for her husband’s reply. Silence was her answer. Usagi shrugged her shoulders. She really didn’t want to give him any. Though she loved her husband, this was chocolate chocolate-chip ice cream. Usagi added her trademark whipped cream mountain and walked out of the kitchen.
The faint squeaking of the kitchen door alerted Mamoru that his beloved was returning to him. He lifted his eyes from his newspaper slightly, just to make sure that she didn’t trip over anything. Despite all the dance classes attended, martial arts techniques learned and the good old-fashioned maturity that time afforded, Usagi was still prone to klutz attacks, especially when there was ice cream involved. He watched her intently, not wavering until she sat beside him.
“Are you sure you don’t want some Mamo-chan?” Usagi suggestively licked her spoon, savoring the rich smooth chocolate concoction.
Mamoru nervously cleared his throat. He knew that look. It was a most animalistic gaze, threatening and extremely dangerous. It was a brave man indeed that would attempt to come between Usagi and her ice cream.
“No, enjoy your ice cream. I’m fine with my cup of coffee.”
Usagi shook her head. She still could not comprehend her husband’s obsession with the foul black liquid. It didn’t even smell appetizing. In fact, it was starting to make her nauseous.
“Mamo-chan--” Usagi began taking long deep breaths, attempting to ease her stomach.
Mamoru, hearing his wife’s strained voice, was quick to react. He leapt from the couch and dashed to the kitchen. His once cherished beverage met its fate down the Chiba family drain. After spraying odor neutralizer, Mamoru made his way back to Usagi.
“I’m sorry. I forgot.” Mamoru sheepishly apologized, silently hoping that his boyish grin would save him from a night on the couch.
“Don’t worry about it.” Usagi bout with nausea was quickly forgotten as the chill from the bowl reminded her than there was ice cream to be eaten. As she ate her ice cream, a less than pleased look took residence on her face. Even in her ice-cream induced bliss, the plight of one of her best friends was ever present.
“Usako, what’s wrong?” Mamoru knelt in front of Usagi, taking the bowl from her.
“Nothing, I was just thinking.” The memory of Kunzite’s dinner party troubled Usagi. Two of her most important people were not there for what she thought were ridiculous reasons. Ami claimed that she had an early morning appointment and therefore could not attend. Zoicite simply stated that he would not be able to handle it if Ami showed up with Taiki. At least he was honest with himself. Usagi did not understand why Ami did not tell the truth and admit she loved Zoicite.
Mamoru gave Usagi a sidelong glance. He could see that something was bothering her. After all this time, it still got to him that she felt the need to protect him. It was his job to do the protecting. Heck, even his name, Mamoru, let people know that he was the protector.
“Usako, are you going to tell me what’s wrong or will I have to resort to drastic measures?” Mamoru held up his right hand, wriggling his fingers. The mischievous grin on his face indicated that he intended to make good on his threat if Usagi did not comply.
Usagi placed her bowl on the coffee table. Slowly inching away from her husband, Usagi started making threats of her own.
“You don’t really want to do that, do you?” Usagi reached behind her, feeling around for something to protect her from Mamoru.
“I don’t want to, but it seems you leave me no choice.”
Mamoru lunged toward Usagi, easily capturing his prey. He mercilessly tickled his wife, her pleas for leniency falling on deaf ears. Mamoru enjoyed watching his Usako writhe beneath him. Her innocence, in conjunction with a raw sensuality that even Usagi did not know she exuded, compelled Mamoru to find any reason to touch her, to be near her. In a move that would have made Tuxedo Kamen proud, Mamoru deftly spun his wife around so that she was sitting on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and gave her one more chance to tell him what was on her mind. Usagi was too proud to give in to her husband after such a short amount of time. She shook her head defiantly. Mamoru shrugged his shoulders, commenting that she brought it upon herself. Usagi’s laughter rang out through the house, nearly drowning out the sound of the doorbell.
“Mamo-chan, someone’s at the door.” Usagi barely managed to squeak out the sentence between laughs and gasps for air. The bell rang again. “Mamo-chan, the door.” Usagi’s voice was more insistent this time.
Mamoru reluctantly released Usagi. Tentatively, Usagi rose from her husband’s lap, making sure that he would not pull her back just as she thought that she got away. She looked back at Mamoru as she reached the door, a victorious smile on her face. Breathing heavily, Usagi opened the front door. Her messy hair and flushed skin made for an interesting site.
“Are we interrupting?” Rei, true to form, raised an eyebrow questioningly.
“If we were interrupting, do you really think she would have opened the door?” Jadeite pushed his way past Rei and Usagi to speak with Mamoru.
“So what exactly was going on before we showed up?”
The little rabbit shifted a bit under the weight of Rei’s stare. “Nothing. Mamoru decided to tickle the truth out of me.”
Rei chuckled. “Tickle torture. It must have been something pretty big for him to resort to that.”
Usagi’s eyes suddenly lost their radiance. Rei knew she was right. Something was heavily pressing on Usagi’s mind.
“Usagi-chan--”
“It’s nothing. Really.” Usagi plastered a less than sincere smile on her face, hoping that her hot-tempered friend would leave well enough alone for once.
As Rei poised herself to respond, Usagi caught sight of another person on the porch.
“Zoicite, what are you doing here?”
Usagi saw Rei look back at the distraught young man and was never so grateful that Rei’s manipulations of fire did not include the ability to shoot flames from her eyes.
The distraught young man walked up to Usagi, head bowed. He glanced up briefly and then walked into the house. Despair and defeat colored his features. Dark circles eclipsed his once bright eyes. His long hair was dull and frizzy. It looked like he had given up on living. Usagi noticed and her heart bled for him. Her eyes followed him as he bypassed the men on the couch to take solace in the kitchen.
“He’s been like that for over a week.” Rei’s voice, though full of compassion, was straining not to let her frustration show. “Zoicite showed up at the temple about a week ago to talk to Jay. Ever since he’s been there everyday, moping and sighing. I’m not sure how much more I can take.”
“Rei,” Usagi admonished, “He’s going through a lot right now.”
“I know!” Rei quipped. “I know.” Her posture changed slightly, shoulders slumping. Rei, as well as Usagi, knew the cause of his problem. It was easier to blame Zoicite than to openly admit that for the first time, Ami may have made a big mistake.
Mamoru and Jadeite watched as Zoicite walked into the kitchen. His feet barely made a sound as he crossed from the carpeted living room to the linoleum-tiled kitchen.
“Jadeite, how long has he been like that?” Mamoru asked, not taking his eyes off the door that separated the kitchen from the living room.
“Since the last time he spoke to Ami,” Jadeite replied.
“And when was that?”
“Two weeks ago.”
* * * * *
Ami absentmindedly thumbed through her birth plan, which resembled a corporate contract complete with clauses, provisions and an exit strategy. She addressed every possible situation from premature labor to stillbirth. Ami knew that nothing could actually prepare her for what she was about to undergo. However, that did not stop her from trying. Upon reading the last page, Ami put the document on the floor in front of her. She had enough of reading it. In a move that would have made Usagi proud, Ami grabbed her remote control and turned on a sappy soap opera.
“Ami-chan, who would have thought you’d be the type to watch this stuff?” Laughter laced
Taiki’s words. Ami could not help but notice that he looked happy, almost excited.
“And where do you think you are going young man?”
“I’m headed to Acid.”
Ami cocked her head to the side. She hadn’t been out in a while. Acid was not a familiar name.
“It’s a new club that Yaten opened.”
“Yaten?”
Taiki nodded, then walked over to the mirror to give himself one last look before leaving, He smoothed his boot cut jeans and picked a piece of lint off his long sleeve graphic tee shirt. As Taiki retrieved his leather jacket from the closet, he heard Ami whistle at him.
“Missing your days as an idol I see.”
Taiki blushed slightly. “I’m just going out for a couple of drinks.” He walked over to the quite pregnant water senshi and placed a platonic kiss on her forehead. Taiki was taken aback by the look on Ami’s face. She appeared wishful and sad at the same time. Her blue eyes were glazed over with tears she refused to shed. Quickly blinking them back, Ami smiled at Taiki.
“Ami-chan,” Taiki began tentatively, “Is everything alright?”
Nodding her head nervously, Ami attempted to reassure Taiki that all was well. Pregnancy hormones became her catchall excuse anytime she did not want to deal with her emotions. She did not want him to cancel his plans again because of her. Ami had realized that she was going to have to learn to live with the choices that she made. Leaning on Taiki had made it all too easy to pretend that everything was fine. Denial was a state in which she could no longer live. Regret was a town that she would no longer visit. In a matter of months, she would have another person depending on her. Ami needed to be strong for her child.
Taiki did not believe that everything was fine. The strained smile on Ami’s face was enough to let anyone know that everything was not fine. Yet, he knew that pressing the issue would do nothing but exacerbate the problem. He sighed, hating that he could not help Ami. The only person capable of helping Ami was Ami. Turning to leave, Taiki saw a black ring box glaring at him from the coffee table. Its presence was a silent testament to Ami’s indecision. He picked up the box, cradling it in the palm of his hand.
“Do you intend to give Zoicite an answer? Even if you don’t want to marry him, he deserves an answer.”
Ami sighed and covered her face with her hands. “I can’t. I’ve waited too long.”
“What are you talking about? He told you to take all the time you needed.”
“No Taiki. I waited too long. I know he thinks that I don’t want to marry him. I’ve missed my chance.”
Taiki knelt down in front of Ami, placing his hands over hers. “Ami-chan, I love you, but it was your assumptions that got you in this mess. How about we leave the fortune telling to Rei?” He opened one of her hands and placed the ring box on her palm. “What you need to do is go get your man and be happy. All this moping does not suit you.”
“But what about you Taiki? What will happen to you if Zoicite and I get back together.”
Taiki grinned. “Hopefully, you won’t be the only one to get your man.” With a mischievous wink, Taiki walked out the door, leaving an amused Ami to pray for the young man Taiki was after.
* * * * *
Zoicite had found just enough energy to leave the kitchen and make his way to Mamoru’s study. With a high backed leather chair as his vantage point, Zoicite stared at an imaginary spot on the wall. Each day that passed without word from Ami brought Zoicite closer to madness. He berated himself for leaving it up to Ami. Part of him was certain that she had once again fled the country to avoid dealing with him. As he sat in his semi-meditative state, Zoicite questioned his motivations. He had resigned himself to a life without Ami, but then he found out about the child she was carrying. Was Ami right? Was he doing this out of obligation? Zoicite vigorously shook his head. He loved Ami long before she became pregnant. Ever since her abrupt departure from his life, Zoicite had been trying to find a way to win her back. If only he could make her see what he felt. Zoicite’s train of thought had been derailed once his host and liege entered the study.
“Zoicite, what are you doing in here?” Mamoru asked gently.
“Just thinking.”
Jadeite sighed most audibly. “And what has thinking done for you lately? You need to go to Ami and demand an answer.”
“I can’t do that Jadeite. I left it up to her.”
Jadeite huffed. Zoicite’s need adhere to rules of decorum, even at his own expense, was infuriating. “What the hell do you mean you can’t?! You can and you should. Anything is better than not knowing.”
“Jadeite!” While Mamoru agreed with Jadeite, he knew that badgering Zoicite was counterproductive. He glared at his loud-mouthed companion.
“Zoicite,” Jadeite’s voice softened under the intensely fierce look of Mamoru, “All I’m trying to say is that anything worth having is worth fighting for.”
Mamoru nodded in silent agreement.
* * * * *
Rei nudged Usagi’s bowl of half melted ice cream with her finger. “All this chocolate can not be good for one person.”
Usagi rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue. Rei, and everyone else, had been telling her that since she was fourteen. She did not listen then, and she had no intention of doing so now. In an act of comical defiance, Usagi filled her mouth to capacity with the gooey mess. Rei shook her head. She could not begin to articulate how ridiculous Usagi looked at the moment. Amusedly, Rei watched as Usagi carefully swallowed the ice cream she shoved in her mouth. A wayward glance toward the hall brought back the reason that Rei was there.
“So, when was the last time you spoke to Ami?” Rei asked once Usagi’s mouth was emptied of its contents.
Usagi shook her head. “It’s been a few weeks, before Zoicite proposed.” Usagi lifted her spoon to her lips and decided against it. Instead, she continued speaking. “You know she’s making a mistake.”
“It’s her mistake to make Usagi. There’s nothing that any of us can do about it.”
“I know, but still. I can’t understand why she’s doing this. Why didn’t Ami tell us about the baby? We would have been there for her. Zoicite would have been there for her. Why didn’t she just tell us?”
Rei sighed discontentedly. At one time, same thoughts plagued her whenever she saw Zoicite. Rei may not have agreed with what Ami did, but part of her understood. She slowly began to answer her friend.
“From what Makoto told me, Ami did not want Zoicite to feel bound to her because of the baby. She wanted his love, not obligation. According to Makoto, she still loves him. Ami just didn’t want Zoicite to think that she was trying to trap him.”
Usagi was uncharacteristically silent. She could remember similar feelings over Mamoru. For longer than she would like to admit, Usagi wondered if Mamoru loved her or was with her because the past they shared and the future they were to create. Her heart insisted that Mamoru loved Usagi and their shared past only served to strengthen their relationship. Her head had a different take on the situation. The battle within her finally ended when Usagi realized that the past was memory that could not be changed and the future was yet to come. She had to concentrate on what was before her at this moment.
“Usagi…” Rei was worried about the look on Usagi’s face. She seemed on the verge of tears.
“I get it now. I understand.”
* * * * *
Ami sat with the ring box in her hand. She stared at it for a while before gaining the courage to open it. She chided herself for fearing the box’s contents. A ring could not hurt her. It was simply a man-made combination of stone and metal. It held no power unless she gave it willingly. Slowly she opened the box. The ring sat shining brilliantly, as if it had forgiven Ami for sentencing it to an existence within the closed container. The room had become a multi-tonal light show in the shade of blue. Ami snapped the box shut and threw it onto the coffee table. She was convinced that she was losing her mind. Damn Taiki and his talk of full disclosure!
Frustrated, Ami pushed herself off the couch. She decided that some fresh air would clear her head. After placing the ring box in her purse, Ami grabbed her jacket and headed out the door. She thought a walk through the park was a good idea until she saw how dark it was. Juuban Park was one of the safest in the city, but Ami did not want to risk being that one person who got hurt there after dark. Ami decided that driving past the park on her way to Crown was just as good as walking though the park.
“Let me guess, one scoop of vanilla.”
“You know what, make it two.”
Motoki looked at Ami strangely. She never ordered more than one of anything. Knowing better than to ask what inspired the sudden increase in appetite, Motoki walked away to get Ami’s order.
As she waited, Ami opened her purse to retrieve her PDA and was confronted once again with Zoicite’s ring. She knew that she had to make a decision one way or another.
“Motoki!” Ami called out, “Can you make that to go and add in an Odango special?”
“An Odango special?!? That’s seven scoops of ice cream!”
“I’m going to see Usagi and you know how she gets about ice cream. I just thought I’d save myself from hearing her beg for mine.”
* * * * *
“So have you heard the latest about Minako and Kunzite?” Rei shook her head no.
“Apparently, Kunzite bought the house next to Minako and intends to expand Minako’s place
after they get married.”
Rei nearly dropped the magazine she was leafing through. “That man is nothing if not persistent. Was he always prone to such grandiose gestures, or has Minako finally driven him mad?”
Usagi and Rei were sharing a laugh at Kunzite’s expense when the doorbell rang.
“Are you expecting company Odango?”
“Rei-chan, I have not worn my hair like that since the first year of high school.” Usagi stuck out her tongue and went to answer the door. Suffice it to say that this was one visitor she was not expecting. Usagi flashed a panicked look toward Rei and then toward Mamoru’s study.
“Usagi-chan, I need your help.” Ami flung her arms around Usagi. “I come bearing gifts.” Ami handed Usagi her very own piece of Crown, the dessert that had been dubiously named after her.
“Is this an Odango special?”
“Usagi…” Rei shook her head in disbelief as Usagi tore into the oversized concoction.
“I know I should have called, but I was already out and decided to pay you a visit.” Ami said as she sat herself on the couch. “I can’t believe what a mess I’ve made. I don’t think I’ll be able to fix it.”
“What mess?” Rei asked innocently.
Ami pointed at her pregnant belly and continued speaking. “I thought I was doing the right thing not telling Zoicite. I wanted him to be with me because he loved me, not because he got me pregnant. I guess part of me was just too afraid of the possibility that he did love me. Losing him the first time was too painful for me to risk that happening again.”
Zoicite’s silent mediation was interrupted by a soft voice. His head jerked up and he dashed toward the door of the study. Opening the door slowly, Zoicite held his breath as he waited to hear the voice again. He was certain it was Ami.
“What’s going on Zoi?” Mamoru asked.
“Shh…Ami’s here and she’s talking to Usagi. I need to hear what she’s saying.” Zoicite took a few cautious steps toward the living room, but remained out of sight. This was the first time that he knew of Ami openly discussing her feelings. He did not want to shock her back into silence.
“When Zoicite returned, I tried to avoid him and the feelings that he brought out. My heart wanted to have him near, but my mind kept reminding me of how he betrayed me. For the first time in my life I was confused and I didn’t like it.”
Usagi and Rei tried to interrupt Ami’s cathartic monologue to tell her that the object of her affection was down the hall. Each time they opened their mouths, Ami talked over them, ignoring their attempts to speak.
“Then one day, he caught me with that smile of his. At that moment, I knew that he was the man that I wanted to be with; there isn’t anyone else in the world who I’ll ever love as much as him.”
Sometime during her speech, Ami found herself holding Zoicite’s ring. She wasn’t sure how it got out of her purse and into her clenched fist, but that did not matter. All that matter to Ami at that point was Zoicite.
Usagi smiled a knowing smile. “I don’t see what the problem is. You love Zoicite and it’s more than obvious that he loves you.”
“Usagi-chan, I think I may have lost my chance with him.” Ami opened her fist. “He gave me this ring over weeks ago. I never responded. I left it in the spot he where placed it and stared at it for two weeks. I want to marry Zoicite. That’s what I’ve always wanted. Look at this ring. It’s a replica of the engagement ring his father gave to his mother. Zoicite gave his mother’s ring to me before the battle with Metallia. Then he had it remade in this lifetime to give to me again.”
Ami’s voice began to break. “That should have been enough for me. But it wasn’t. I needed proof of his love. I needed evidence of his devotion. Damn scientific process.”
Zoicite was barely able to contain himself as he listened to Ami. Unnoticed by Ami, he walked into the living room. “I’ll make you a deal. You put on that ring and we’ll call it even.”
Ami spun around to see a smiling Zoicite standing behind her. She then cast her heated gaze upon Rei and Usagi. “Why didn’t you two tell me he was here?”
“We tried to,” Rei quipped, “But is seems that you developed Minako’s ability to speak at length without stopping to take a breath.”
Zoicite quickly found himself seated next to Ami. He took the ring from her hand and slid it onto her ring finger. He then kissed Ami on the forehead and drew her into his arms.
“I’ve missed you so much,” he whispered. Ami replied by engaging him in a soul-searing kiss.
“Okay break it up you two! You don’t want me to get the hose.” Jadeite yelled as he and Mamoru joined the mini celebration.
Mamoru sat next to Usagi and pulled her into his lap. Lazily, he placed his hands on her abdomen, thankful that Zoicite and Ami worked things out. Being orphaned taught Mamoru that every child deserved an intact happy family. He placed a tender kiss on his wife’s temple and smiled as he watched Zoicite dote on Ami.
Jadeite attempted to embrace Rei in vain. She swatted his arms away, making a comment about not wanting him touching her. Jadeite’s smile faded in the face of Rei’s cruelty. How anyone could witness such a scene and still be so mean was beyond him.
“Jadeite, stop pouting. It’ll give you wrinkles.” Rei winked at her beloved and motioned for him to give her hug. It was a request that he readily fulfilled.
Ami found her attention split between her fiancé and her friends. She could not believe that she had put so much distance between herself and the people who cared the most about her. She wasted so much time being scared, time that she could never give back. Ami thought about the last time she saw any of them. So much had changed. Apparently, the fire within Rei was consuming her because her trademark onyx locks now had subtle red highlights. It was that or Minako finally got Rei to agree to dabble in a bit of hair color. Jadeite finally got his swagger back and was able to go toe to toe with the miko that held his heart. Mamoru looked more content than usual, though there was a feral gleam in his eyes. His posture resembled that of Endymion during the last days of the Silver Millennium more so than the Mamoru she had grown to love and respect in this time. The arms that embraced Usagi appeared gentle, but his back was rigid, as if waiting for someone or something to strike. Usagi looked up at her husband and whispered something that made him smile. Ami noticed that Mamoru’s eyes softened, but his hands never left her body. He was in protector mode, but Ami did not know why. Ami gasped as she finally realized.
“Ami-chan, what’s wrong?” Usagi asked.
“By the goddess, you’re pregnant.”