This is a one-part story, that fits between "Valentine's Day" and "Usagi and Mamoru's Love: Surprises." Enjoy! ^_^ -Lianne (LianneSen@aol.com) *Never Let Me Go* Usako sat in front of her vanity mirror, fixing herself up. With make up, and perfume, and jewelry, and hair products - things like that. Y'know - pretty girl stuff. Stuff that smells good and looks pretty and guys can't ever understand. I STILL don't know how she fixes herself up so well; how she gets her hair so perfect, how she never has a trace of misplaced lipstick on her lips...I could NEVER do stuff like that. Maybe that's why God chose me to be a man. My whole life, I could never understand girls. I could never understand how they could be so openly affectionate, how they could be so automatically maternal, how they could always make themselves so perfect and beautiful...I swear, women are BORN with the ability to make themselves look pretty. One of life's little mysteries, I suppose...I thought maybe I'd understand girls more when I got married, but I was wrong, of course. Women are STILL mysterious, even if you live with them and tell them EVERYTHING and they tell YOU everything, there's still this...little halo of mystery they always keep around them, this little knowing and confidence about something they always have but YOU never understand and CERTAINLY never have had...women are incredible. Really. They seem to know it all, but they never tell you. They just want you to know that they know something you don't, that they could handle any situation that could come up, and to keep you guessing about them the things you can never understand... God, I love being a guy... And Usako...she was so DIFFERENT from other women. I mean, she had all those things that women had, but she was so LOVING and care-free and sweet...she fascinated me in so many things. I'd love watching her talk to her friends, or draw, or talk on the phone, or read, or play video games... she always had these expressions on her face that were so pure and TRUE...Usako never tried to do anything but show what she really felt, which was the COMPLETE opposite of me my whole life...I was just so enthralled with how she could do that, and how she was so comfortable with that...and it wasn't just that that fascinated me about her, either. Just the way she did things, with those little hands and fingers of hers, with those big blue eyes that were always so happy and open...I loved to just watch her do things, just watch her be herself in her own element. She just... FASCINATED me so MUCH... I was just sitting on the bed and watching her. Watching her be so careful and serious as she kept her eyes on the mirror, her little delicate hands so knowing and precise as she applied her make-up with such skill and care...she was putting her eyeliner on - gentle and knowing so she could get it perfect - when she turned her head halfway to look at me. "Mamo-chan, are you getting ready?" I was lying on my stomach, my head tilted up, my legs kicking back and forth in the air playfully, with my chin rested on the crossed arms that lay in front of me. I smiled. "I will." "You will?'" She rolled her eyes and turned back to the mirror, putting the eyeliner back down and picking up a golden barrette. She didn't turn to me as she placed it carefully in her hair, adjusting it gently. "Mamo-chan, we're leaving in 15 minutes." I smiled again. I was feeling so happy, and kinda silly at the same time..."I know." She finished putting her matching barrette in, then applied her lipstick. Those little lips of hers... she managed to get them so perfect...those sweet little lips, how could she get them so impeccably red? "Do you need help?" she asked as smacked them together gently. "No," I answered simply, smiling again. I was being so dopey. I know I was. But I didn't care. I kept kicking my legs back and forth, letting them sway comfortably as I kept my eyes continuously on her. She started to play with her hair. Y'know - to fix it. She was leaving it in the odango - which I was very happy to see, because you don't know HOW much I adore those sweet little odango - but she did that pretty thing where she pulls out a few curls and lets them fall from behind her ear to brush a smooth cheek, or curl from behind her neck so it'd hang down and tickle her skin. At least, it LOOKED like it tickled. If I had hair like that, it would tickle ME. She kept adjusting the curls, and kinda curling them around her finger to make them more springy, and patting and fixing the rest of her hair to make sure it looked right...she adjusted the odango and sprayed all of her hair quickly, afterwards fiddling with it AGAIN to make sure it was right. It was FLAWLESS, but she didn't look satisfied until she had checked it several times; she turned to me again as soon as she was done. God, she looked so PERFECT...like a china doll or something, with her face well-defined, and her little golden curls hanging down, and her lined eyes big and endlessly light...she saw how I was just staring at her, smiling like some dope, and she made a face. Kinda like she was...angry and annoyed at the same time...God, she looked JUST like an angry china doll..."Mamo-chan! Come on! You GOTTA get ready!" I just wanted to keep staring at that little perfect face, in that little perfect expression..."I will," I said again with a smile. I felt like teasing her so she wouldn't lose that sweet little pout, with those big blue eyes flashing with annoyance...that little angry china doll... Usako humphed and pushed her chair back. She was so petite...I just LOVED her so MUCH..."Mamo-chan, get up. We are NOT going to be late." She walked to the closet quickly, her little stockinged feet padding on the carpeting. She yanked the cord to the light on in the closet and started fishing through the hangers, her thin arms yanking them aside quickly to look at each of the outfits with her serious little face. The pretty dress she wore swished around her calves, with those petite stockinged feet on tip-toes so she could reach the high hangers better. She looked long at a tuxedo hanging. "Mamo-chan, you wanna wear your tux? I don't think it's too formal..." She wasn't even looking at me, her little feet on her tip-toes, her little perfect hanging curls bouncing as she moved...I smiled, slipping my socked feet to the floor and sliding behind her silently. I wrapped my arms around her petite waist, leaning over and kissing her smooth cheek. Her skin was so light and cool, and smelled so pretty...kissing her was like drinking a glass of sunshine... She tightened in surprise, then tried to push me off. "Ma...Mamo-chan! C'mon! Quit it! We're gonna be late!" I closed my eyes, kissing her temple. She was so soft...she made a noise of disgruntledness, grabbing my arms and breaking free of them. She turned to me angrily, those big blue eyes full of fire. "Mamo-chan! Come ON! If you don't get ready in time I'm LEAVING withOUT you!" I smiled again, tilting my head at her. She stomped her foot angrily, her eyes burning. "MAMO-chan, will you QUIT IT?!" I love making her annoyed. She's so beautiful when she's mad. She turned back angrily to the closet, wrestling with the hanger of the tuxedo and pulling it out, shoving it at me with a frustrated annoyance to her features. "Here," she ordered. "You'll wear this. Now get DRESSED." I looked down at it. It was my black one. She had turned back to the closet and gotten to her knees, fishing through all the shoes on its floor before finally pulling out with a pair of black dress shoes and cramming them at me. "Wear the shoes, put on your good socks, and...make yourself look good, ok? There are gonna be a lot of people we've never met before at this party and I DON'T want my husband looking shabby." I smiled. "Ok." She made a face. "Don't EMBARRASS me tonight, Mamo-chan," she growled. "Embarass you?" I batted my eyelashes at her innocently. Usako rolled her eyes and gave me a little push. "You are SUCH a dork. Just put on the tux." She went back to the vanity mirror, sitting down and pulling out her eyeliner. I just stood and watched her a minute, with her little fingers holding the small brush, combing out those long, beautiful eyelashes..."Mamo-chan." She didn't even bother turning to me. "GET DRESSED." I smiled at her reflection in the mirror before dropping the shoes on the bed and putting on the tuxedo. I've done it enough times that it's not a problem, and a minute later I flung out my arms and smiled at her. "See, Usako? All done!" She turned to me as she was putting her earrings in; she frowned, then got up and came over to me, fixing my jacket and brushing the dust off the shoulder. She was always doing stuff like that. She took my tie and started tying it quickly, those thin hands yanking and tying briskly. She looked so serious, with her little red lips set tight, and her big eyes flat...she made my heart go fuzzy. I took the oppurtunity to slip my arms around her and pull her close, kissing her cheek again. It felt like it had blush on it, and it smelled so soft and pretty..."MAMO-CHAN!!" She pushed me angrily, her eyes flashing with vexation. "Will you STOP?! You are driving me CRAZY!!" I smiled as she grabbed my tie again, mumbling angrily to herself as she finished with its loops and quickly adjusted it. My eyes shined happily as I looked down at her angry, muttering form, her curls jarring with her jerky, frustrated movements. God, this was FUN... ******************** Usako pushed a golden curl out of her face, looking out the window at her side. The streets were bright with street lamps and a few store lights and wane moonlight, but the night was quite dark. And a little cold for late April, incidentally. Winter had come late and lingered long that year. "Mamo-chan, take the second right after the light." She looked down and fiddled with her purse, quickly making sure she had everything. Like she had done several times already. I glanced at her as I drove. The street lamps that made lines of light on the dark rode flicked on and off of her through the window, illuminating her profile in brief spurts that were closely spaced and darkly yellow. She was perfect. Even in the murky yellow light, even though her face was turned down to her lap, even though the car was dark...she was beautiful. I smiled as I came up to the light she spoke of, stopping because it was red. She was still looking in her purse, checking through her lipsticks and compacts and whatever feminine stuff she keeps in there. I never looked, so I don't exactly know what. I leaned over and kissed her temple again, enjoying how gentle her make-up powder felt on my lips. She blinked and turned to me as she felt it; I took the chance and kissed her full on the lips. I felt her cheeks get hot, and she broke from me and moved closer to the window, flashing me an annoyed look. But I could see she was blushing. "Mamo-chan...keep your eyes on the road," she muttered, her thin fingers fumbling to go through her purse again. The light had turned green, and I drove forward, keeping her in the corner of my eye. She had looked down again, but a moment later she looked up at me, then made a face. Those little ruby lips of hers set in a frustrated line, her blond eyebrows furrowed. Petite fingers came up and started rubbing my lips as she frowned. "Mamo-chan, now you got my lipstick on you." I smiled under her fingertips. ****************** The parking spot we got was pretty far away from the ballroom thing, so we had to walk aways through the dark parking lot to get to it. I didn't exactly know what the place was - it looked like some big mansion thing with a ballroom on the bottom floor. I wasn't really sure - Motoki and Reika were friends with some rich girl that Reika had met when she had gone to Africa. The girl was another member of the archeologist team, and they got along, and it turned out she lived in Tokyo so she invited them to some ball thing she was having. Reika talked about Usako and me a lot, so she invited us, too. I'd never even seen the girl, but Reika told me she was nice and all, and it'd been a while since Usako and I got to go to something formal, so we went. Usako's dress had long sleeves, but it was rather thin, as most formal dresses are. It was pretty cold out, and there was a light wind; I felt her take my arm and lean against me, trying to keep warm. I put my arm around her and pulled her closer as we walked, her high heels on her little feet clicking against the concrete. I liked having her little body so close to mine, and I kissed her on the temple once more; she moved her head away and looked at me angrily. Her blue eyes were annoyed. "Mamo-chan," she told me flatly. "Will you cut it out? You've been doing that all night." I smiled and moved my face closer to hers. She smelled like flowers and make up..."That's 'cause I'm thinking about how much I love you," I drawled. She rolled her eyes and turned her face forward. "Mamo-chan, you can be so corny." I smiled. "Yeah, but you like it." She looked up at me out of the corner of her eyes. Slowly, she smiled. A little smile, gentle, those tiny red lips curling slightly. She was so beautiful..."That's the first smile I've seen all night," I said with a smile. She let out a breath. "Mamo-chan...it's not that I don't like you being sweet - you *know* how much I love you. It's just...TRY not to romance me a lot tonight at this party? It can be embarrassing when you do it in public. ESPECIALLY since we're hardly gonna know anyone there." I looked up and pulled her closer. "Fair enough." I looked down at her mischievously from the corner of my eye, and smiled wickedly. "But that doesn't mean I'm gonna do what you ask." "MAmo-CHAN!" Before she could go further, I saw we had reached the doorway, and I quickly whisked her in before she could chide me again. There was a servant there with a booklet. "Name?" he asked me. "Chiba. Usagi and Mamoru." Usako glared at me as she brushed her sleeves out, giving me a warning look. I winked at her, and her eyes flashed with aggravation. She looked like she was going to lecture me again, but the guy got his say in first. "Go right through. Furuhata Reika asked for you two to be shown where the lady of the house is mingling. Furuhata-san said she would be there. I believe she and her husband were waiting for you?" "Most likely," I replied. The man nodded, then pointed to a small group of chattering people deep in the ballroom. "They would be there," he said formally. I linked my arm with Usako's and nodded at him. "Arigato." We walked past him and into the bright-lighted ballroom, the gossiping guests and quiet music echoing around us. It was pretty big, for a private party. It looked like she probably owned the place, and the ballroom CERTAINLY wasn't a little dance parlor. White marble floors, a five-piece orchestra in the corner, tables with drinks lined down in many places with vases of large flower arrangements, and a big marble stairway that lead up to the second floor. There were lamps up high on the walls, far-spaced but lined on every wall, and a big crystal chandelier in the high, dome-shaped ceiling. Actually, it looked A LOT like that last dance Usako and I were at on the Moon Kingdom. Almost, only this one was smaller than that, and a bit more contemporary. It was surprising. Usako looked up at me as she adjusted her purse on her shoulder. "Be good, ok, Mamo-chan?" "Good?" I tried to look innocent. She gave me a little nudge. "Don't embarrass me," she hissed lightly, brushing a curl out of her eye. She seemed pretty nervous. I brushed my fingertips over the hand my arm was looped with. "Hey, calm down, baby," I whispered to her quietly, my face near her temple. "Don't get riled up. They're just people, for God's sake." She brushed another curl away quickly. "I know. Just...I wanna look good. And you should, too. Your tie ok?" She looked up at it, then reached up to try to adjust it again; I caught her hand before she touched it, curling my fingers over hers and bringing it back down to rest at her side. "It's fine, Usako. Calm down." She sighed, then turned forward again. She had started to worry me a little, but it didn't seem to be anything serious, so I simply gave her arm a little squeeze to try to reassure her. I didn't even have another moment to think about it, as a voice cut into my thoughts. "Mamoru-kun! Usagi-chan! You made it!" Reika. She had suddenly appeared nearby, a glass in her hand and a happy smile on her face, Motoki beside her. They were both dressed nicely, and looked to be in high spirits. Usako and I smiled at them, and I released her so she and Reika could hug briefly. Motoki gave me a friendly knock in the shoulder. "Hey, Mamoru-kun. What'cha been up to?" I shrugged. "Not much. Rewriting attack plans for taking over the world to coordinate with my hours at the lab, but not much else." "Hmm. Why am I not surprised?" Motoki lost himself in his glass a moment, then looked over at Usako with a smile. "Hey, Usagi-chan. You look great tonight." Usako blushed shyly, and Reika looked her over. "I was just about to say the same thing. Where DID you get that charming dress, Usagi?" *I* remember. That time Usako dragged me to the mall, and we went through a hundred of those dress shops where all I had to do was stare at my toes until she'd come out of the dressing room with a new outfit and asked me how it looked. It didn't matter to me - she looked gorgeous in anything in my eyes. I'd tell her as much, and she'd always blush. I donno - she still blushes around me, though we've been married close to a year. Kinda weird, but *I'M* not complaining. She's even more gorgeous when she blushes. "'Asaki's' at the mall," she said shyly. "I know it's not very fancy, but I kinda liked the color..." "No no - it's PERFECT, Usagi-chan!" Reika assured her quickly. "And that color blue really suits you. Goes with your eyes." Usako got all red again, and looked down. It DID suit her - I'll admit that it IS even prettier than all her other stuff. It had this low collar that revealed her neck and slightly below, but wasn't low-cut enough that it showed anything else. It covered her shoulders and arms in a thin, long sleeve fabric that was like silk, and went down her body in a simple, comfortable style that ended well beyond her knees, all in sky blue. She had a little bow of pink silk that she had tied around her thin waist, and the gold necklace with the diamond heart on it I gave her for Valentine's Day around her little neck. Come to think of it, she DID look beautiful. I mean, more so than normal. I ALWAYS think she's beautiful, so I don't, unfortunately, often notice if she looks especially good. I'm gonna have to start getting better at that. Reika took Usako's arm. "Usagi-chan, why don't you come with me so we can go join the girl chat? The girl that threw this party wanted to meet you." Usako wrung her hands shyly. "Me? Why?" Reika smiled. "'Cause I told her what a great gal you were. You ready?" Usako pulled back a bit. Why did she look so nervous? "Uh...yeah, in a sec. I'd like to...talk to Mamo-chan for a second. Why don't you... go and I'll follow you?" Usako's smile looked rather wane. Reika smiled. "All right. Come soon, Usagi." She walked over to a group of mingling women and got right into a conversation. Usako took my arm unconsciously as she watched her go. I was going to ask Usako why she seemed so upset when Motoki nudged me. He winked. "After your talk with the Mrs., come join me for guy talk, ne? We haven't done THAT in a while." "Uh...sure." I watched him leave, then turned down to Usako. She looked pale. I got worried. "Usako, daijobu?" I asked quickly, pulling her closer. She nodded quickly, but her grip on my arm tightened. "Mamo-chan... what am I gonna do?" I blinked. "What?" "I can't just go over THERE!" she said breathlessly. "That girl's so... regal! And those women are all so...high-class!" "And you're not?" She glared at me nervously; I moved back, showing I was unarmed. "Hey! I wasn't kidding! Why is that suddenly making such a difference for you? They don't have anything you don't." "Mamo-chan, you...I...oh, you just don't UNDERSTAND!" she said frustratedly, throwing her arms up and humphing. I took her arms and pulled her closer, giving her a skeptical look. "Usako, I don't believe you. You have NO REASON to be nervous here. So don't be." Usako frowned angrily and looked down. However, it seemed to now be more full of annoyance than true worry, and that made me feel better. I took her hand. "C'mon. I'll walk you over." "What?! Mamo-chan...don't! I...I need a minute!" She pulled desperately on my hand, but I only gripped hers more firmly and practically dragged her to where Reika and the group of close to a dozen women chattered. Usako kept pulling on me, but I grabbed her wrist and pulled her up behind me, smiling at the women as I approached. "Komban wa, ladies! How are you all doing this evening?" Reika took one look at me, my grip on Usako's wrist, and the look of total fight on her face, then covered her face with her glass and tried not to laugh. I ignored her and stuck a hand out to the woman that seemed to be the girl that had thrown the party. "Hi! I'm Chiba Mamoru! May I have the pleasure of knowing the name of the fine hostess of this regal party?" The woman blinked, then slowly extended a surprisingly rough hand for me to shake. Baka, she's an archeologist. That explains it. She smiled, a look of amusement on her face. "I'm...Kotono Takedowa." "Pleasure meeting you," I said as I gripped Usako's wrist tighter. She seemed to be giving up, though. Kotono looked at me more closely, then a slightly DIFFERENT look of pleasure came into her eyes. Oh God...y'know, why is it women will STILL look at you that way even when they KNOW you're married? Drives me nuts sometimes. I guess that's what I get for wearing my good tux. Crap. Shoulda worn the white one. "Nice meeting YOU, Chiba-san," Kotono said, her voice lower and more relaxed than it had been a moment ago. "I've heard a lot about you from Reika." I smiled. "Only good things, I hope." Usagi made a haughty humph behind me. "Flirt," she muttered. I pretended not to hear it as I slipped my arm around her waist. "Oh, but I'm sure you've heard about my lovely WIFE as well!" I said with a false happiness that sounded WAY faker than I intended it to. I fought the wince I SO wanted to make at my last comment as I flung her forward. "This is Usagi!" The women all made polite comments and greetings as Usako smiled shakily and returned them as much as she could. "Um...arigato, minna-san. That's very...*kind* of you." At the word "kind" she had managed to reach behind her slowly enough so no one would notice and dig her nails into my arm with vehemence. God, she had SHARP nails. She almost drew blood. I gave myself a mental note to remember to cut those things when she was asleep. I pulled away from her killer nails and gave a parting wave to all females present. "Well, it was nice meeting you all, and I hope to perhaps see you later this evening?" All the women made choruses of agreement, and, don't you know, they ALL had that look in their eyes. I REALLY shoulda worn the white one. I flicked off a quick smile before bending close to Usako and smiling wickedly. "Now YOU be good," I chided her, and gave her a peck on the lips. She glared DAGGERS at me for that one. "MAMO-CHAN!" she hissed, trying to keep from the other womens' stares. "WHAT did I TELL you about when we came in?!" She turned back around to the women, smiling shakily and giving a little wave. I looked at her, then quickly took her chin and kissed her again, slipping away fast enough to dodge her swiping nails as her eyes glared at me in twin seas of rock-hard blue. Man, was I gonna get it later for THAT one. But you know, I didn't care. I liked to see her mad. Come to think of it, that's a LOT like it was when we first met. I winked. "Ja, Odango Atama." She blushed furiously and tried to hide herself in her purse strap as she was absorbed by the group of females. What was this, flashback central? I felt like I was in some corny "Remember the Eighties" show or something. God, I really AM an idiot. I found Motoki nearby. And, sure as Motoki's Motoki, he'd been watching me the whole time with Usako. He just shook his head at me and smiled. "You know you're gonna be sleeping on the couch 'till you're 45 for that little stunt," he said through curled, amused lips hidden in a glass of punch. "She kicks in her sleep anyway," I replied as I picked a drink off the nearby table and downed some of it. Motoki laughed. "Charmer extraodinaire, you are NOT, Chiba Mamoru," he remarked. "At least not with that wife of yours. However, you ARE getting quite a few female stares from this place besides the fact that you are OBVIOUSLY married. I think three quarters of the place was watching you two." I winced, then finished the cup in a swig. I gulped it down and picked up another. "Man, I really AM gonna be on the couch for 20 years." I suddenly looked up at him and blinked. "'Female stares?'" Motoki cocked an eyebrow at me as he took a light drink from his cup. "You shoulda worn the white one." Baka. I hate Motoki when he's right. I think I finished that whole new glass in one gulp. "You suck, Motoki." "I know." A man I didn't know came up nearby and gave me a look, smiling broadly as he held up a glass of the punch like he was making a toast. He had to have been in his 40's. "Hey, it's the lady killer! You've been getting quite a few womens' eyes even after that bout with your little lady, lad!" At that moment I vowed to go home, take off the black tux I was wearing, and burn it. Come to think of it, maybe I didn't HAVE to wait till I got home. I think I had some matches in my pocket, and I could slip outside for a minute..."I think the gals go for blue eyes or something," he said with a laugh. I shrugged as I picked up another drink. "Well, I may be free after tonight," I muttered as I swigged again. Funny, I never drink like I was right then. Usako does things to me NOBODY can... "Your girlfriend planning on letting you go?" The man laughed. I looked up at him and blinked. "Girlfriend?" He smiled. "Yeah. The doll in blue." I stared at him a second, then turned to Usako. "Her?" "Yeah. Don't worry - I think you can do better," he said with a laugh. I shot him an icy glare. "Hey, shut your mouth," I told him flatly. "That's my wife." I shouldn't've have been so nasty - I KNEW I shouldn't've - but that comment really angered me. I kinda surprised myself. It caused this little intense burning deep in my chest. Like ANY woman could be more perfect than my Usako. I suddenly realized I was really mad at the guy. I felt like punching him in the stupid jaw. Inwardly, I winced. I needed a grip, and fast. I downed the drink and tried not to look at the guy as I felt Motoki's gaze on me. The guy made a noise of surprise. "Hey, I'm not looking for trouble," he said, a bit brusquely. "I didn't know. No hard feelings meant." I didn't look up. "Right." I picked up another cup and took a gulp. I didn't want to look at him until I was sure my anger was curbed. He made a humph. "Fine." He addressed Motoki. "Tell your little friend he better keep ahold of his emotions or he isn't gonna get ANYWHERE in life," he said flatly, with this really nasty undertone to it. I didn't care. I finished the glass of punch as his footsteps clicked away. A hand quickly gripped my arm, and Motoki looked at me with fiercely green eyes. "What was THAT all about, Mamoru-kun?" he asked flatly. "What came over you? You were just REALLY rude with that guy. You LOOKING to ruin relationships before you even start them? Your testosterone messin' with your head again?" I nudged him off, a bit roughly. I glared at him. "Don't tell me how to talk to people, Motoki." Motoki gave me a rather cold look before looking down and shrugging it off. "Get a grip, Mamoru-kun." I scowled, then sighed. He was right. Again. I slapped a hand to my forehead, exasperated. "Motoki..." I moaned sadly. "What am I *doing*?!" "I can make a pretty good guess," he said simply, running a long finger along the rim of his cup. He cocked an eyebrow at me. "Can YOU do the same?" I sighed. "Usako," I whispered. "It's BECAUSE it was Usako." "It was BECAUSE you felt someone was insulting your one and only," Motoki added for me. "The one and only that's been the ONLY one to ever affect you like she does." That was something I hated hearing, but knew it was true. God, I hate hearing things that I KNOW I have no control over and land me in big trouble. Sweet Usako, you can cause some BIG problems, you know that? "Mmmm..." Motoki smiled slightly. "Mamoru, I KNOW how much you love that bunny of yours. But you gotta get a GRIP. She's screwed with your emotions SO profusely - and don't get me wrong, in a GOOD way - that you can't control them at ALL when it comes to her." He brought down his cup, smiling wickedly. "DON'T forget I was with you that time when a guy at the supermarket was rude to her and you nearly knocked his lights out." I ran a hand through my bangs. God, I SO hated Motoki. How come he was ALWAYS right? "Motoki, you suck A LOT." Motoki rolled his eyes. "Look. The fact that that wife of yours has so grabbed your heart and opened you to new horizons of emotion and feeling are OF COURSE gonna make her your weakness! There's nothing WRONG with wanting to kick the crap out of any guy that makes her feel bad. But you just can't ACT on that, Mamoru-kun." I gulped down the rest of the glass nervously and put it down on the table. I sighed and leaned back against it, looking over at my wife. She was still talking to the women, her little hand gripped on the purse strap on her shoulder in an almost tight way. "You're right as usual, Motoki-kun," I breathed. "Of course I am." He put down his now-empty glass and came over to stand next to me and join my gazing. We were quiet a moment, before he voiced the thought prominent in my mind. "She really is beautiful." "Don't I know," I whispered. God, that girl SO hypnotizes me. But I like it that way. Motoki perked his ears up to hear the orchestra as it started another song, then gave me a nudge. "Hey. They're startin' a slow song. Why don't you go dance with Usagi a while so you can calm down? I kinda feel like dancing with my little woman myself." "Good idea." I stood up slowly and stretched my arms out a bit before the two of us made our way over to the gossiping group. I touched Usako on the shoulder to get her attention; she jerked around to me very abruptly, a small look of fear in her eyes. That REALLY confused me. I almost got worried, except that the look was immediately extinguished and replaced with a look of relief. "Mamo-chan," she breathed. Her hand quickly clamped on my arm, like she didn't want me to go. I tried to ignore these odd signs and not start getting confused. I smiled. "Hey, baby," I whispered to her quietly. "Wanna dance?" She nodded quickly, slipping into my arm. I looked up at the women. "Do you mind if I steal this lovely wife of mine for a quick dance, ladies?" Motoki winked as he put his arms around Reika. "I have to say I have the same thieving intentions. Does anyone mind?" God, we really ARE flirts. Habit, I guess. Or just that damn testosterone again. The women all chuckled good-naturedly. "Go right ahead," Kotono said, waving a hand. "Have a good time." "And we look forward to you two handsome gentlemen to steal US away for dancing later on," one of the women laughed. I smiled, though I really felt like running. I don't feel good when women say stuff like that to me. But Motoki was eating it up, winking and smiling at the girls before whisking Reika to the dance floor. He really is a born flirt. I pulled Usako out to the marble dance floor, and she quickly slid into my arms and pressed close to me. I clasped her hand and put my arm around her waist as her arm slipped around my neck and hugged me tightly. She seemed a little... nervous...I started to lead in a slow, easy dance, and she followed shakily, out of natural instinct. She may be a little shaky on her feet at times, but she REALLY has a knack with dancing. No joke. Dancing with her's like dancing with warm air. Once we'd gotten the swing of things, I decided to talk to her a bit. I leaned my lips down near her ear. "How've you been holding out?" I said with a smile. "Those girls stuffy enough to clog up your breathing air?" Usako was silent. She tightened her grip around my neck and curled into my shoulder, where I couldn't see her face. I blinked. "Usako?" She started trembling in my hold. I got alarmed. What WAS this? I released her hand and tipped her small chin up urgently, my heart going fast. She was crying. "Mamo-chan..." she sobbed. "Usako?" I pulled her face up and brought mine close to hers, gazing at her in worry. "What's wrong?" "Mamo-chan," she sobbed again. "I...I...I feel like such... a...child..." "You what?" I set my mouth in a tight line. I needed to get her out of there. I pulled her close and quickly escorted her off the dance floor, letting her hide her face in my shoulder so hopefully nobody would notice something was wrong. I really didn't want her to embarrass herself like this. I found a little hallway that led off of the main ballroom, into a little hallway and to the kitchens and some store rooms and stuff. I pulled her into it and around a corner in the hall where nobody would likely go; as soon as we were out of sight, she collapsed into my arms and started crying harder. I decided not to interrogate right away; I simply held her little shaking form in my arms as she buried her petite face in my neck and sobbed warm little tears. "Mamo-chan..." God. Motoki was so RIGHT. Seeing her crying now - her little pretty face sad and tears streaming, her mascara and make up blurring and smearing on her beautiful face - made a hand grip my heart and squeeze it without mercy. I wanted to shatter, or cry, or hurt someone, or kill myself - I didn't even KNOW what. It just...made me feel so BAD. She had been so confident and aggravated earlier, her blue eyes flashing and in control, and now she was crying, smearing the soft, powdery make-up she had so carefully padded on, and the ruby lipstick she had so intricately administered to her little lips... I clutched her tighter to me, trying to squeeze out her pain, her sadness, whatever was making her little confident self cry and wringing my heart..."Usako..." I whispered. She sniffed, sobbing more into my neck. "Mamo-chan," she whispered shakily in my ear. "I...I felt like...such a KID out there..." "A kid?" Her voice broke my heart. Dammit - I was starting to lose it. I mean, really LOSE it. I REALLY felt like hurting someone, ANYONE, that might have caused her to cry like this, that might have made her smudge all that make-up she had wanted so much to make perfect...my arms trembled. I gritted my teeth and fought down that violent urge that welled up in me, the violent urge I KNEW I couldn't act upon. God, how could I be so not in control of my feelings? Because it was with Usako... "I'm...so YOUNG compared to those women," she sobbed, clutching the fabric of my jacket with a slender, trembling hand. "Reika was probably the...youngest one there besides me. I...I...I can't COMPARE with them!" "You...you can't compare?" My voice was as shocked as I truly was. How could she...be crying because...I felt my eyes quiver. My God... "I just graduated from high school," she whispered through her sobbing. "I...I didn't even apply for college...I work in a clothing store for a living...I've never been to Africa or Mongolia for archeology or...met important people in France...or been in front of the Emperor as an orchestra member...I haven't had any EXPERIENCES like that! All I ever did was...read comic books and play at the arcade!" she blurted out, her voice cracking. "I'm just a stupid KID!" I didn't know what to do. I felt like...I wanted to jab a knife into my heart, to take away the pain. At least that would be less painful than THIS...she thought she was stupid? Oh GOD..."Usako..." I breathed, hugging her tighter. The poor girl...she hadn't even turned 19 yet, and she was talking with all those much older women that were probably science majors or psychologists going for their Masters degrees...but I didn't CARE about that! NONE of them had a heart as big as Usako's! I'd trade a million of those stuffy botanists to arrive home from work and receive a bear hug filled with love from Usako. I'd trade a million hours talking to a psychology major just to sit and watch Usako put on her make-up so carefully in front of her vanity mirror before she went out to a party. I'd trade a million flirtatious, educated women for one kiss from my wife, one kiss that was so filled with undying love in such tiny lips that so accepted me for what I was and never asked for anything more than who I would always be... Her crying was so sad in my ear, so feminine and weak... I slid my face closer to hers, whispering to her as gently as my raging emotions could. "Usako, don't...don't say things like that," I breathed. "It's not...YOU'RE not...it doesn't matter, ok? You don't have any reason to feel inferior to them. Just because you're young doesn't mean you're anything less than them." "But it's not just 'cause I'm young," she breathed in a high, wavering voice. "I'm so...STUPID and act like such a KID..." "Don't SAY that!" I said it rather forcefully, and I immediately bit my teeth together as soon as I had. My control couldn't fade, it COULDN'T...I took a deep breath silently and tried to still my quaking arms. "You're NOT a kid," I said, more quietly. "Do you hear me? You're NOT. You're a beautiful, mature woman that I love very much and wouldn't give up for anything in the world." She was still sobbing. "But Mamo-chan..." "Listen to me. Those women may have been in school more than you, they may know more people, they may have busier jobs, but NONE of them is as kind and gentle and loving as you are. NONE of them. And I don't care what ANYONE says, you are NOT a child. You've only kept your beautiful innocence with you always, though you've become a woman. That's NOTHING to be ashamed of, Usako. It's something few people can do. And it's one of the things that made me fall in love with you in the first place." She was quiet a moment. I could feel her heavy breathing against me, hear the sweet breaths that she choked back in my ear as she fought down the tears that streamed from her eyes. She curled herself into my arms more, making a little whine as she rubbed her eyes with a petite hand. "Mamo-chan..." she whispered. "Do I...do I really look ok out there with all of them?" I shook my head. "No." I closed my eyes and pressed my lips into her ear. "You look a thousand times more beautiful than ANY of those other women." I felt her smile slightly near my cheek, and one of her hands nudged up and clutched at my collar as she leaned her cheek against mine. "Mamo-chan, c'mon...I mean, do I REALLY look ok?" "You look wonderful," I said quietly, feeling a smile of my own curving my lips unconsciously. I could feel my insides start to relax and loosen, and fill up slowly with that fuzzy warmth I got whenever I held her close. It hadn't taken very long for my emotions to COMPLETELY flip-flop. Oh, Usako..."You stand out as being so beautiful, Usako," I whispered to her. "But, you don't look out of place at all. I had no idea you were nervous until you told me. You fit perfectly well with those women." I heard her make a noise somewhat like a chuckle as she slid a soft finger up to caress my opposite cheek gently. "Even though I'm SO different..." "You're better." Usako giggled slightly at that. "Mamo-chan...quit it." I smiled as I turned my head to look at her. She had make-up smeared on her face, but she was happy, and she still looked as beautiful as she always did. And I felt so light inside , so calm inside, now that I could see her smile... She suddenly blinked, then covered her mouth with a little hand. "Oh! Mamo-chan...I got make-up on you..." She backed up from me and unclasped her purse with petite fingers, pulling out a tissue and quickly rubbing my cheek with it. I smiled at her, and she smiled back shyly as she rubbed off any cream or powder that might have rubbed off on my jacket and pulled out a small vanity mirror, looking into it with wide eyes. "Good God, I look AWFUL..." She started rubbing off mascara as she reached out with fingers still clutched around the mirror to touch my arm. "I don't wanna keep us back here for long, but I gotta fix this all up. Wait for me?" I touched her hand. "So you ARE going to listen to me?" She looked up at me slowly, and gave a little smile. "Well," she said. "You've been right lots of times already. Might as well give you the benefit of the doubt." She looked up quickly. "But promise you'll bring me out there? I don't know if I could make it alone..." I gave a mockingly regal bow. "I shall wait to escort you back to the party, milady." Usako giggled shyly as she gave me a little push. "Geez, Mamo-chan. You can be so SILLY." I smiled as I watched her wipe around her slightly-smeared lips carefully. My eyes went soft. "But you don't look any less beautiful now," I whispered to her. Her eyes suddenly flicked up at me. She quickly looked back down, rubbed off all her lipstick in one, fluid movement, then threw her arms around my neck and kissed me with such gentle, beautiful, loving passion that I seriously thought I was going to faint. God, Motoki. You were so RIGHT. She finally broke away and kept her face breathingly close to mine, her eyes half-closed. "I love you," she whispered softly. I could have collapsed right there, everything was so hazy and warm, and my heart was pounding so hard...I only managed to put my arms around her shakily and hold her back. "I...love you, too..." I whispered. Everything felt so thick and warm inside me, and I could hardly think... delicate fingers took my chin as she pressed her forehead against mine. "I love you so much, Mamo-chan," she whispered. "Don't ever change..." I reached up slowly and touched her cheek. "Only if you don't..." She smiled, giggling softly. Her eyes grew soft. "Whatever you say, baby." ******************* Motoki wouldn't stop staring at me with this intense skeptical look that annoyed the HELL outta me for the longest time. I swear, if I wasn't in such a good mood I probably woulda punched his lights out for driving me so damn crazy. At last I slammed my glass down on the table and glared at him. "WHAT?!" He kept up with his little scornful look for a moment before shrugging and shaking around the ice in his glass. "Just wondering what you were doing with Usagi back there." I was so worked up it took me a minute to compute. "What?" Motoki looked at me sarcastically. "Mamoru-kun..." he sighed. "God. You're just..." "Just WHAT?" I was REALLY starting to get annoyed. He rolled his eyes exasperatingly. "All I know is that I SEE you go and take your wife for a dance, disappear suddenly after two minutes, and five minutes later you come out looking you're on top of the world and dance for a half-hour straight." I looked at him dryly. "So? Whadda YOU care? You've been glaring at me for the past five minutes because I -" "Should watch how emotional you two get in public." He looked at me seriously. "Mamoru, I KNOW you and Usagi haven't been married even a year yet, but you MAYBE shouldn't get all emotional and disappear together and stuff when you two are at parties. Now's a time for you two to be more social with other people and not just yourSELVES. I know you probably don't want to spend a minute apart, but you really -" "I get what you're saying, Motoki-kun." I cut him off, not unkindly. "But this was an unusual thing. Usako got a little upset, but she's ok NOW, and looking a lot more comfortable with those women, so I really see no reason for you to drag out the fact that we -" "Why don't you just wipe the lipstick off your lips and we continue this evening without anymore reprimands from either side?" He took a sip of punch and kept his eyes off me. I blinked, then slowly put a finger to my lips. I hate to admit it, but I blushed when I saw the slight red that rubbed off. "Damn." I rubbed off the lipstick as quickly as I could. "I t