Red Champagne Usagi-chan Usagi@lunap.com http://www.geocities.com/minako_usa Standard Disclaimers Apply. Author's Notes: Thank you to everyone who replied! I simply adore you! Thank you Arty, Bunny and Minako-chan! And this part also goes out to Kari! ^_^ Also to MK, Joeey, Mia and Mariedel for being total sweeties and putting up with my ultimate delight on Sunday! I know, I can be psycho bubbly ^_^ Chapter Four "Another stunning success! Here's to Usagi and Rose Designs." Minako raised her wineglass as she toasted her friend. "And to Minako, and her Moonlight Models. Without whom, the show would never have happened." Usagi raised her own glass slightly before sipping the white wine. "I really was impressed Usagi. Where on earth did you come up with the idea for using..." "Excuse me a moment, but I need to borrow this young woman for just a sec." Mamoru smoothly cut off the older, and obviously fashion impaired, journalist. "Well, of course." The woman almost swooned at Mamoru's half smile. Mamoru held Usagi's arm and gently led her away from the journalist who quickly turned her attention to an older man. "Yes? Is there something you needed?" Usagi looked up at him, their eyes meeting. "Yes." Mamoru replied huskily. Without another word, he bent his head and caught her lips with his own. Usagi was shocked. Not so much by the fact that Mamoru was kissing her, in the middle of a very public party in a hotel, but more by the way it was making her feel. She as on fire. From head to toe. She could feel the blood coursing through her veins with a heat she had never felt before. It was shocking, stunning and tantalizing all at once. She couldn't get enough. Usagi's arms snaked around Mamoru's neck and she pulled him closer against her, kissing him back. Mamoru didn't need any further encouragement. He swept Usagi against his hard body, and held her tightly. She was gorgeous, and he had been waiting to do this since he had seen her months ago. "Usagi," He murmured against her lips. "Usako." Usagi jerked away as reality came crashing down on her. What had she been thinking! She was in public, kissing one of her models like a teenager unable to control her hormones. "Oh God..." She whispered before turning away from Mamoru. "Usagi." He caught her wrist and pulled her back against him, hard. She almost cried out, but bit her lip instead. "Where do you think you are going?" "Away, away from you." She whispered fiercely. "Away from this." Usagi gestured to the room around them. "Usagi," His voice was soft, but it sent a shiver up Usagi's spine. She could see the glint in his eyes and wasn't sure whether it was dangerous, or not. Suddenly Usagi was free, and Mamoru was striding away from her. He was halfway across the room before she even realized that he wasn't holding her against him anymore. Shaking, Usagi turned to find Minako. She scanned the room and saw Minako talking with a few of her models, laughing and drinking the wine that was flowing freely. "Minako? Can I talk to you?" "Sure, Usagi. What is it?" Minako handed her glass to one of the waiters circling the hotel, and followed Usagi out of the room into a deserted corridor. "It's Mamoru." Usagi sighed. "He... He kissed me, Minako! He kissed me, then I got mad, and he.. He stormed off." Minako's mouth formed an 'o' as her eyes widened. "He kissed you?!" She practically squealed with delight. "Oh Usagi! How utterly romantic!" "Minako! Please!" Usagi stamped her foot in her impatient. "Usagi, a gorgeous model kissed you in a public hotel and you think something is wrong?" Minako raised an eyebrow as she questioned her friend's sanity. "Minako! That's not the point." Usagi snapped. "Then what is, Usagi? What is the point? Is it that Mamoru makes you forget Yuu? Is it that Mamoru makes you feel like a woman again?" Minako snapped back. She was tired of the way Usagi was acting, and the way Usagi was ignoring what were obviously feelings she harbored for Mamoru. "Minako... I..." Usagi was surprised at her friend's tirade and didn't quite know what to say. "Look Usagi, what do you feel about Mamoru?" Minako asked, looking Usagi straight in the eye. "I'm not sure... I..." Usagi paused. "I love him." "Then what's the problem?" "Aren't I supposed to love Yuu forever? I was ready to marry him and declare my love to him forever, but here I am already giving it away... What if I had married Yuu? Would I regret it once I met Mamoru? Would I wish I hadn't married Yuu? God, Minako-chan, I feel like I'm betraying him." Usagi slid against the wall to sit on the ground with her knees drawn up to her chin. "I feel like..." "Like a woman in love?" Minako suggested. "Usa, things happen for a reason. Maybe you and Yuu were never meant to be. Maybe Mamoru is your soulmate, and destiny intended for you two to be together forever. How can you feel guilty for a love like that? I've seen you two together, and there is definitely something there. Don't you want to explore it and find out what it is?" "Yes, Minako." Usagi looked up at her friend. "I do." "Then go in there, girl! And get your man!" Minako pulled Usagi to her feet and pushed her back towards the party. "Thanks Minako!" Usagi smiled and walked in, ready to talk to Mamoru and tell him that she loved him, only to find him making out with a red haired model. Usagi's smile died on her lips and she turned around. "Forget it Minako. We assumed too much." Usagi bite out angrily before walking out of the party, and out of Mamoru's life forever. Usagi sat at her desk tiredly massaging her temples. She was working on a few new winter designs and trying to balance her accounts. Neither job seemed too appealing to the young CEO. "Hizashi, I'm going to take a walk. I'll be back in a bit. If anyone calls just take a message." Usagi informed her secretary. "Sure thing." Hizashi nodded and turned back to her computer screen. "Don't forget your jacket. It's freezing out there!" Usagi nodded and pulled on the suit jacket she had brought as she stepped onto the elevator. Usagi walked through the park and paused to look out over the frozen lake. The sun was shining brightly, and just barely starting to hint at what would be a beautiful sunset. She hugged herself, pulling her jacket tighter around herself. The wind whipped through her jacket and chilled her to the bone. Usagi reveled in the cutting wind, closing her eyes for just a moment. With a sigh, Usagi decided to head back to her office, to finish up for the day. "Hizashi, I guess we can go home early today. I don't think I'm going to get much done tonight." Usagi told her secretary as she stepped off the elevator. "Alright, but there's someone waiting for you in your office." Hizashi flicked off her computer screen. "Is it Minako?" Usagi asked as she walked towards her office. "No." Something in Hizashi's voice made Usagi freeze. "Look, I'm just going to go home." Usagi nodded sharply and waited for Hizashi to collect her things and get on the elevator before turning her attention to her office. Silently she cursed the heavy wooden door she always closed when she left the office before turning the handle and pushing it open. "Mamoru!" The name escaped her lips before she could stop herself. "Usagi." He greeted, turning from the bay window to face her. The fading sunlight lit up his face and Usagi thought her heart was going to stop. He was gorgeous. "What do you want?" She asked coldly, turning away from him. She walked across the spacious office to a filing cabinet and pulled open one of the drawers. "I want to talk, Usagi. Please." He moved towards her, and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. Usagi pulled away. "Don't touch me, Mamoru." Mamoru closed his eyes briefly, and Usagi used the moment to escape. She walked around her desk, wanting to put as much space between them as possible. "Usagi, I don't know what happened. I don't know why you ran off." He paused. "I want to know why." Usagi gazed out the window as Mamoru spoke. The last rays of sunlight danced through her hair and he could read the sadness in her eyes as she watched the street below. "Usako..." Usagi looked up at him, pain replacing the sadness. "You want to know why, Mamoru? Why? I'll tell you why. When I was seventeen, I met the man of my dreams. We fell in love and were engaged a year and half later. Three months after he proposed to me, my fiancé was killed." Usagi paused, willing the tears to go away. "My fiancé, Yuu, was my friend's older brother, and he looked exactly like you. The only difference between you two is that his eyes were green." "God, Usako. All this time... It's been like... All this time I've..." The horrified look on Mamoru's face spoke volumes to Usagi. She laughed. "And suddenly I'm no longer in the running, am I? Why don't you go back to your pretty little red head, hmm?" Usagi crossed her office in long strides. "I'm sure she's waiting for you." "What are you talking about?" Mamoru asked, anger flooded his features. "Oh please! I may be a sob story but I'm not stupid." Usagi snapped back. "I saw you sucking face with the red head at the party." "What red head?" Mamoru asked, his eyes darkening. "After you stormed away from me." Usagi rolled here eyes. "Just exchange one girl for another, is it?" "When I left you, I left the party." Mamoru walked calmly towards Usagi. "You were the only girl I kissed at the party." "Oh." Usagi was dumbfounded. "Then who was the guy I saw kissing the..." "Will you forget the damned red head?" Mamoru asked before grabbing Usagi and pulling her towards him. He crushed her to his chest as his lips sought hers. Usagi fought him at first, before she lost herself in the sensations he was creating for her. It just felt so good to be in his arms, and she wanted to stay there. She knew she would be happy there forever. "Mamo-chan..." she murmured against his mouth as she kissed him back. "Usa, Usako..." He wouldn't let her go. "I love you." The words escaped his lips, coming out as barely a whisper. None the less, Usagi heard them and she did the only thing she could do. She hugged him tighter and whispered back, "I love you." Epilogue Usagi lifted the champagne glass, her lips forming a gentle smile as she whispered her toast. "To my darling, my love, my life." She brought the glass to her lips and sipped the dark liquid. Her lips were tinted a deep crimson from the champagne, and the subtle flavor flooded her mouth. "Happy anniversary." Usagi whispered, draining her glass. She reached for the bottle in the ice box and refilled her wineglass. She turned to face the table and watched as the candle flames danced in the soft breeze. Her eyes became vacant as she was entranced by the candles. A startles scream escaped her lips as a strong arm wrapped itself around Usagi's waist. The wineglass fell from her hand, the red champagne splashing everywhere. Usagi laughed, indifferent to the red stains on the floor around her. "Darling..." She whispered again, before her lips fell upon his.