@<~~<~~ Bed of Roses - A Valentine's Day Story Chapter Four By Aimee @<~~<~~ Mr. Calm and Collected, himself, was fidgeting for the first time in his life. Mamoru struggled to keep his hands still as he stared at the entrance in expectation. Where was she?! The dance had started over an hour ago, yet there was no sign of the odangoed-bunny anywhere! The tall man paced back and forth in the back of the large warehouse where the annual Valentine's Day dance was held for the local community. He glanced without interest at the people on the dance floor, who were giddy with excitement. He normally hated these kinds of events-- detested them, even. But he knew Usagi would like it and wouldn't even think of missing it, so he decided to grin and bear the pain. . . all for the chance to see her. Mamoru sighed as he sat in a chair at a table in the corner and placed his head in his hands miserably. "I cannot believe I'm doing this. . . " he muttered. "Me either," came a familiar voice. Mamoru glanced up to see Motoki standing before him. "What are you doing here? I thought you weren't coming." The latter scoffed. "Are you kidding? Do you honestly think I'd miss a chance to see you fawn over Usagi? I even brought my camera." "Well, you may have come for nothing. She's not here," Mamoru remarked grimly. "And even if she was, I'm not sure if I have the courage to actually go through with. . . " Mamoru's words trailed off into nothing, and his face grew slightly pale. His gaze seemed to be fixed somewhere in the distance. "Hey, Mamoru! What's wrong?" Motoki asked, waving a hand in front of his friend's eyes. "Helloooo?" Motoki followed Mamoru's gaze to see what had struck him speechless, and when his eyes fell upon the golden beauty who had just walked through the door, everything suddenly made sense. There was Usagi, amidst her giggling friends; she looked absolutely stunning. The short white dress she wore gave her an air of innocence and grace, and she seemed to float rather than walk. Her hair was taken out of it's usual style, and it was woven in a complicated braid, with little wispy curls here and there. The effect it made on Mamoru was well noted by Motoki. "Stop drooling. It's embarrassing. But, I must admit that you certainly have good taste in women." But his friend had grown paler still. "I-I can't do this," he announced gravely. "What? Come on! You've done so much planning for this evening," Motoki argued as he looked at his friend incredulously. "You go talk to her," Mamoru pleaded, suddenly taking on the air of a fourth grader. "Ask her who she thinks it is, and tell me what she says." "Mamoru, you're acting like a kid! Get up, and go talk to her before I drag you over there." "Please, Motoki? I can't go through with this. I couldn't take it if she rejected me." "Well, you should have thought of that a long time ago. I would think that Usagi never knowing how you feel would be worse than being rejected," Motoki remarked, almost angrily. He shook his head unhappily as he began walking toward the golden angel on the other side of the room. "The things I do for him. . . " If Mamoru's impatience was bad, Usagi's was worse. After a moment or two of glancing around in hopeful expectation, the light in her face dimmed a little in disappointment. Sadly, she found a table and sat alone, brooding in silence. Wistfully, she watched her friends attempt to swing dance. They had asked her to join them, but she was entirely too nervous. Too many questions were barraging her mind. Where was he? Was he going to make himself known tonight? Surely he had seen her come in! Why hadn't he come to talk to her? Did he even want to? "Hey there, kiddo." Usagi was pulled out of her reverie by the familiar voice of Motoki. "Hi!" she exclaimed, gesturing for him to sit down. "Happy Valentine's Day!" The older man chuckled at her rapid mood changes. When he had walked up to the table, she had looked quite depressed and lonely, and he cursed at Mamoru for making her feel that way. "Same to you," Motoki said as he took a seat next to Usagi. "So why are you sitting in the corner all by yourself? Don't you want to go dance with your friends?" She sighed. "I was hoping someone was coming to meet me tonight, but I guess I was mistaken." Motoki felt a twist of guilt, and he scowled across the room at Mamoru. "I guess you're talking about your secret admirer, right?" Usagi looked at Motoki in surprise. "How did you know about that?" As she asked the question, a bazaar thought dawned on her. Was it Motoki? Surely not! He had a girlfriend, for goodness sake! True, she loved Motoki to death, but he was more like a brother to her than anything else. "A reliable source informed me. And I know what you're thinking, so allow me to be the first to assure you that it's not me," Motoki explained. He chuckled when Usagi let out a relieved sigh. "So, who do you think it is?" "I'm not sure," she answered thoughtfully. "Anyone you're *hoping* it might be?" Usagi's eyes fell upon Mamoru, who was sitting across the room, brooding to himself, much like she was. "Well, there is someone that I like, but I don't think he thinks very much of me." Motoki followed her gaze to land on the face of his best friend. Ah hah! He inwardly gave a victory cry. "Motoki? Can I let you in on a secret?" Did she even have to ask? "Of course, Usagi." "Well, I was kind of hoping that it might be Mamoru," she said hesitantly after a moment. "Do you think there's even a remote possibility that he might like me?" Motoki smiled knowingly. "Follow your heart, Usagi. It'll lead you down the right path. I promise." @<~~<~~ "What did she say?" Mamoru asked quickly when his friend returned. "Go talk to her," Motoki ordered. "Now." "But. . . " "March, Chiba!" "All right, all right! I'm going!" A very nervous Mamoru suddenly found himself weaving through tables and couples toward a very beautiful young lady in the far corner. "You can do this," was the little pep talk he gave himself. He inwardly cringed at how distraught she looked. Good grief, what had Motoki said to her?! Usagi, in the meantime, was going over her options. Motoki had not answered her directly when she'd asked if her secret admirer might be Mamoru. Was that his way of telling her that it was definitely not him? Was he telling her that she was looking in the wrong place? The very thought of someone other than Mamoru giving her roses and presents was so unappealing that she suddenly wished she was wearing something else. The dress that she had been given was suddenly not so pretty. She tugged at it unhappily. "Why so sad, Odango?" came a deep voice. Usagi smiled when she saw the handsome Mamoru taking a seat next to her. Speak of the devil. "I'm all right," she lied, glancing wistfully at the man who probably couldn't stand her. But wait. . . why was he here if he disliked her? Usagi's eyes shot to the place where Mamoru had been moments earlier, and she saw Motoki sitting there, smiling smugly at the two of them. Her eyes widened in the sudden realization that Motoki must have sent Mamoru to talk to her. If that was the case, then. . . "Are you sure you're okay?" he asked again. She blushed and tried to hide the excitement building in her heart. "Yes, I'm feeling much better than I did earlier." Indeed she did, now that there was hope that Mamoru might be the one. "I'm glad," Mamoru remarked, sounding relieved. It had been torturous seeing Usagi almost in tears as she sat by herself. He scolded himself for not having the courage to come talk to her before. This wasn't so bad. . . "I've been waiting for someone, you know," Usagi told him with a trembling voice, hoping he'd take the hint. "I'm sure Motoki told you that." "Sometimes what you're looking for is right in front of you," Mamoru said quietly, glancing at her with uncharacteristic shyness. She faltered under his gaze and blushed slightly. A soft song began playing the background--a rare occasion at a swing dance, and Mamoru jumped on the opportunity. "May I have this dance?" he asked as he offered out his hand to the girl before him. Usagi's eyes widened in surprise at this new development. Had she heard correctly? Mamoru wanted to dance with *her*? Had someone spiked the punch? Whatever the case was, Usagi reached out a trembling hand and allowed Mamoru to lead her to the dance floor. Mamoru's hands slid around her waist, and Usagi shyly placed her arms around his neck. No words passed between them as they swayed gently to the beautiful chords of the song, but none were needed. Usagi rested her cheek on his chest, noting with a smile that Mamoru hugged her a little closer as she did so. A sweet smell drifted to Usagi's senses as she and Mamoru danced. A familiar smell. The smell of roses. The exact same smell she woke up to that very morning. Usagi's eyes opened slowly and realized with a nervous gulp that it was *him* that she was smelling. Was it true? Mamoru was her secret admirer? It couldn't be a coincidence, could it? There were so many things that were pointing directly at him, yet there was still doubt in her mind. She couldn't help but remember the times when she and Mamoru fought mercilessly and nastily. But she couldn't deny the times when he was kind--like at the arcade when he'd apologized for his behavior, and right now as they danced. While she was certain now that they were at least friends, she wondered if he could ever possibly reciprocate what she had felt for him all these months. In short, could he ever love her? "Are you all right, Usagi?" he asked her softly. "You're trembling." "I'm fine," she whispered back. Indeed, if Mamoru was truly the one, she would be more than fine. There was only one way to find out, and as the final chord of the song sounded, Usagi pulled three small objects from a little pocket on her dress. Mamoru twirled her around and gave her a hug as the audience applauded the band. Usagi took a deep breath and held her hand out to the tall man before her, trying to offer him something. "What's this?" Mamoru asked as Usagi dropped several objects that were soft and light into his palm. He looked upon them in mute surprise. In his hand were three rose petals. A yellow one, a pink one, and a red one. Mamoru swallowed nervously. She knew! The sly little rabbit had figured it out! But how? He watched her look up at him in expectation, waiting silently for him to say something. . . anything. . . but he couldn't seem to find his voice. Usagi frowned. He wasn't saying anything, and there wasn't a hint of recognition on his face. He looked confused, if anything. Tragically dis- appointed, she took a step back and offered the man before her a weak smile. "Happy Valentine's Day, Mamoru. Goodnight." With that, she turned the other way and left. @<~~<~~ The end. Oh my gosh, I'm kidding. Just keep reading. You're almost done! Aimee sailor_moon89@hotmail.com http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Teahouse/4986/ @<~~<~~