OK, this is an impulsive little songfic that probably won't be all that long. Just 
curious, though: Anyone seen "Keeping The Faith"? It is my absolute favorite 
movie right now, and I've suddenly taking a shine to the music as well. Well, this 
story is based on the opening credits song that just struck me as a sort of tongue-
in-cheek kinda story. So I decided to write a story around it. Especially since 
the romance of Usagi/ Mamoru is kinda danced around in the first season, the way 
the lyrics dance around the subject of the song. So anywho, here it is: Please Call 
Me Baby. ^_~ Enjoy!


DISCLAIMER : SM is NOT mine. Someday Tuxie WILL be mine. This story IS mine. 


slr_europa@yahoo.com

http://www.geocities.com/slr_europa/

AIM :: SeeShelliRun

------>--{@  *~*~*~* @}--<-------
Please Call Me Baby (1/1)
Rating: PG

Sailor Europa


 ~ * ~  @}--<---- ~ * ~
The evening fell just like a star
Left a trail behind
You spit it, 
you slammed out the door
~ * ~  ----->--{@ ~ * ~

	Mamoru sighed.
	It had not been the night he envisioned. He stared blankly through 
unseeing eyes at the street below him. He pressed his fingers against the glass, 
making little rings of condensation around the pads, and let his mind clear. 
	Somehow, his perfect little evening had erupted right in his face, alluded 
his notice until the very end. He cringed as he envisioned her face, contorted with 
anger, and he began to mentally berate himself for letting that evil little insulting 
voice get the better of him, on tonight of all nights.
	He turned his back to the sliding door, depressed by the twinkling, happy 
lights down on the streets below. He, however, groaned as he was only accosted 
with the sight of the dimly lit dining/ living room, Rose petals strewn about with 
askew pillows thrown in the heat of an argument and even a stray glass or two. He 
tilted his head to the side thoughtfully as he gazed dejectedly at the candle lit table 
for two and shook his head. 

~ * ~  @}--<---- ~ * ~
If this is love we're crazy
'Cause we fight like cats and dogs
I just know there's got to be more
~ * ~  ----->--{@ ~ * ~

	He had to wonder what he had done this for; taken this obscene chance 
when every logical bone in his body told him it was utter nonsense. Usagi? And 
him? Was he nuts? 
	Again he sighed, moving towards the abandoned table and setting the 
askew chair upright again. He absently tidied up the miniscule mess they had 
made, and then gave a disapproving look around the room. It appeared as if 
nothing had ever happened. The room was waiting for her arrival, totally 
oblivious to the oddities that had taken place mere moments before hand. 
	Didn't help him to forget, though. He groaned as he flipped on the lights 
completely now and blew out the tall, ivory candles, spraying wax onto the 
delicate lace table-cloth he had borrowed from his elderly neighbor, Mrs. Cravis. 
He'd have to remember to thank her for the use when he returned it. He just 
hoped she didn't inquire as to how well his evening had gone. He had been 
careless enough to brag profusely about his romantic rendezvous to anyone who 
would listen. The laws of life should have told him that when people were 
expecting something, fate usually delivered the opposite. But fate wasn't the one 
who had to face all those eager faces, hungry for details on the night he had 
described. 
	But the dinner date was anything but up to par with expectations he'd had. 
Somehow, jabs were traded, which exploded into full blown insults and 
eventually a pillow in the nose, thrown by an angered blonde, who, looking back 
on the situation, Mamoru really could not blame. The fight had been ridiculous 
and downright silly. Comical to any third party that might have caught it. But at 
the time, it had seemed real and infuriating and no words escaped his hearing. He 
didn't miss a one. Now he sat back and replayed them in his mind and just 
chuckled at what a bastard he was. He didn't know why she had put up with him 
for as long as she did. 

~ * ~  @}--<---- ~ * ~
Please call me baby
where ever you are
It's too cold to be out walking in the streets…
~ * ~  ----->--{@ ~ * ~

	Mamoru looked up suddenly at the slight sound of a rain on the glass door 
leading to his balcony and just blinked. Perfect. The storm was a wonderful 
accent to his moody tone. He sat silently on his couch and let his eye line remain 
stagnant on the scuffed and worn coffee table his feet were propped up on. The 
strength and amount of water increased slowly and surely on his door and 
windows, and he glanced up to find his enter foyer outside soaked, the door 
already impenetrable for his sight. 
	His head suddenly perked up, thought, at a small thought. An inkling, 
really. He furrowed his brow and glanced at the clock above his mantel. 	
	"7:42…" He mumbled subtly, the wheels in his brain beginning to turn. 
"20 minutes…." She'd be in the park by now, he thought. Which meant she was 
now caught, probably frightened and alone, already horribly upset, in the middle 
of this deluge. 
	Within a few seconds, he had torn his jacket from the rack and bolted from 
the front door, more worried with Usagi floundering home than locking the bolt.

~ * ~  @}--<---- ~ * ~
We do crazy things when we're wounded
Everyone's a bit insane
But I don't want you catching your death of cold
out walking in the rain
~ * ~  ----->--{@ ~ * ~

: :  7 o'clock, sharp : : 

	Ding dong.

	It hadn't been 30 seconds after Mamoru had completed setting the 
elaborate table when the doorbell chimed, signaling the arrival of his guest of 
honor. He inhaled a deep breath, hoping he had truly prepared himself for this 
occasion. It wasn't everyday he tried to charm a friend. Or enemy. He wasn't sure 
which one Usagi was these days. 
	But it didn't matter. Whatever she was at the beginning of the evening, he 
fully intended on making her so much more by the end. 
	He straightened his solid silk tie and smoothed his already perfect hair just 
behind the door, and then thrust it open with a flourish. He grinned wickedly, 
hoping that the smile proved the façade he was wearing wasn't just bravado. 
Despite that it really was the biggest piece of BS he's ever conjured. 
	Usagi was standing on the other side of the frame, dressed to kill in a light 
pink tank dress, cut high enough to keep her virginal values, but allowed the 
hugged curves to hint a less innocent demeanor. 
	But her face was less than enthusiastic, much to Mamoru's dismay. It was 
obvious, by the raised eyebrow, that even after he pleaded his innocent intentions 
before hand, she still had her reservations about the evening. He tried not to let 
the expression unnerve him though as he let her wordlessly through the door and 
took her purse from her, hanging it beside his jacket on the coat rack. 
	He let a small notion of triumph invade his thoughts as he watched her 
eyes light up at the setting he had prepared carefully all afternoon. Rose petals, 
tablecloth, candle, porcelain china, the whole nine yards. Mamoru had spared no 
expense, or, his neighbors had. Mamoru himself never really entertained many 
guests, and was distressed when he opened his cupboards to find nothing but 
mismatched silverware and a few plastic plates. Luckily his apartment complex 
had always been kind enough, and allowed the borrowing of a few things. It had 
taken a sob story of how he was trying to woo the girl of his dreams, though, and 
the promise of a full report on the outcome of the evening to get the items. But 
Mamoru was confident in his evident success. When he had taken such 
painstaking precautions, how could he go wrong? 

~ * ~  @}--<---- ~ * ~
I admit that I ain't no angel
I admit that I ain't no saint
I'm selfish and I'm cruel
but you're blind
~ * ~  ----->--{@ ~ * ~

	"You look beautiful Usagi." He murmured as he led her to the table, 
already carefully set, in which Mamoru spent an hour laying the utensils and 
goblets perfectly, an equal distance from each other. OK, so he admitted that part 
of his pickiness stemmed from the anxiety over the whole ordeal, but even now he 
had to admit it looked amazing. He mentally patted himself on the back. 
	"Mmm….Thank you." She replied, giving him a reserved smile. He let the 
distanced response cut him a bit, and he cleared his throat nervously, suddenly 
getting a few shocks from his mind, breaking his confidence a bit. 
	The smell of her light perfume wafted into his nostrils and he was lost 
again, though. He remembered all the times he had inadvertently had the pleasure 
of being close enough to enjoy this sensation. Her pointing an accusatory finger 
his way, blowing a raspberry, smacking him with a book, a paper, her hand….
	Mamoru had a remarkable talent of a selective memory. The fact that none 
of those instances had been anything but unhappy was never even entertained in 
his thoughts. 
	"Mamoru-san…." He cringed at the formality. "Did you actually cook?" 
He chuckled a bit as he snagged the forgotten bottle of cider and nodded, amused. 
	"As a matter of fact Usagi, I happen to be an excellent cook." He gave a 
self-righteous smirk. "Something you might know if you took the time to get to 
know me." 
	He was met with a sly smile and the narrowing of her eyes, but he was 
only excited that she seemed to be loosening up a bit. He chalked one up for 
subtle sarcasm. 
	"I wish I could cook." She said wistfully, a small, private smile playing on 
her lips and she stared at the few pictures above his fireplace. He was grinning 
ridiculously at her petite form, amazed that he had succeeded in getting her here. 
"I've never successfully completed a meal." 
	"I can only imagine what a kitchen looks like after it's been hit by 
hurricane Odango Atama." Ooooh, that was not the thing to say….
	She whirled around, her eyes, previously beginning to let the light pour 
out from, turned to ice immediately. 
	"I'll thank you, Chiba Mamoru, not to call me that." She bit out, and 
Mamoru just gulped regretfully. He was so flustered at the moment he couldn't 
even utter an apology. 
	Instead he just moved into the main course, hoping her favorite subject 
(food) would help to divert the attention from his big mouth. He departed from 
the room and retrieved a large pot filled with tomato sauce and spooned it onto an 
already prepared plate of thin noodles. He took a few deep breaths and tried to 
collect his wits, which now seemed to be scattered all about him and the room. 
	He returned moments later, to find Usagi seated on the edge of the leather 
couch, staring into space vacantly. He smiled as her attention was brought to his 
form and he was delighted when her eyes lit up at the sight of food. Mamoru just 
prayed that it would make up for his careless comment from before. 
	"Oooh, I love spaghetti!" She squealed, her eyes never leaving the plate as 
it traveled effortlessly through the air. He gave a half smile. 
	"What don't you like that's edible?" Oh God, that wasn't going to help…
	She blushed, embarrassed and it was all he could do to keep himself from 
smacking himself upside his head. What the hell was he thinking tonight? 
	He hastily busied himself with filling the goblets with cider, trying to 
ignore his own comment, hoping that in doing that she would too. She stood by 
idly and he eventually finished, setting the bottle aside. He smiled slyly and 
ushered her to her side of the table and gallantly pulled her chair out for her. 
	"M'lady." He said, bending down with a smile. She smiled shyly and sat 
daintily onto the cushion. He made his way to his end and sat himself in his own 
chair. 
	He looked around and took it all in, his efforts, his time, his afternoon. He 
exhaled, a long and tedious breath, as he admired his handiwork. It had all been 
worth it. She had shown up, and now he was finally living out a dream. A very 
recent dream, he had to admit, but it was a persistent one. It was a few weeks ago 
that he decided to try his luck at this fantasy, sitting across a dimly lit table, 
candles setting her every feature aglow, Usagi gazing back at him. He had wanted 
to make this night perfect. It was far from that, he admitted, but in his mind's eye, 
everything was going beautifully. 
	It was then that he got a brilliant idea. Grabbing his wine glass by the stem 
and throwing a debonair smile towards his companion, he cleared his throat. 
	"To the beginning of a beautiful friendship." He hedged a bit on that last 
word, hesitated on using the term "friend". He had hoped for something a bit 
more intimate, but knew that it would only confuse her. He wasn't sure she would 
understand, and if she did, he would risk the chance of scaring her away. And that 
was the last thing he wanted to do. 
	Usagi smiled genuinely, happy at the suggestion the toast brought about, 
and attempted to respond in the like, grasping at the stem lightly and bringing her 
hand forth. 

~ * ~  @}--<---- ~ * ~
If I exercise my devils,
my angels may leave too
When they leave they're so hard to find
~ * ~  ----->--{@ ~ * ~

	But in a moment on hesitation something slipped and the glassware 
tumbled down to the waiting lace of the tablecloth and she watched in surprise as 
the contents spilled carelessly all over. She gasped and blushed, already leaning 
forward and apologizing profusely. 
	"Oh gosh Darien, I'm so sorry. Geez, sometimes I can be such a klutz…" 
She giggled nervously and Darien just shooed her efforts away. 
	"Sometimes?" He shook his head, laughing merrily, the harshness of the 
single word complete unnoticed by him. "Don't worry, it's nothing knew for you, 
I'm sure. I've got it." He patted at the slight stain and breathed a sigh of relief 
when he realized the stain would be subtle at worst, gone at best. He tilted his 
eyes upwards, hoping to give Usagi a reassuring glance of encouragement, but 
was stopped dead in his tracks as he caught the contorted, tear-fighting eyes of 
one Tsukino Usagi. He sat himself back down and gaped back at her, completely 
clueless as to what he had done now. 



~ * ~  @}--<---- ~ * ~
So please call me baby
where ever you are
It's too cold to be out walking in the streets…
~ * ~  ----->--{@ ~ * ~	



	Mamoru trudged on, his feet sloshing noisily through the empty streets of 
Tokyo, only passing a few stray unlucky souls without cars in such a downpour. 
He kept his head down, the force of the winds pushing the rain almost completely 
horizontal and into his face, totally avoiding his plastic, black umbrella. 
	He didn't need to see the path, anyway. He'd taken this road many times, 
strangely enough, for almost this same reason. He thought back to the recent 
weeks and his ulterior motives he had developed for taking this route each day. It 
was longer and more tedious, but he'd figured out early on that Usagi frequented 
this park almost every day, and whenever he took the long walk through it at a 
certain time, he would run, literally, into the blonde tornado. So, he had denied 
the reasons at first, but eventually gave in when his ecstasy was much too blatant 
to ignore any longer. He relished seeing her each day, and even though it was 
often only unpleasantries they exchanged, he still enjoyed encountering her. 
	He decided to try to forget his behavior earlier in the evening. If he let his 
mind close around his words, insults, jabs, he would only drive himself insane. 
Right now he just concentrated on setting things right. He wasn't going to try to 
win her affections now, that ship had been sailed and promptly sunk by his 
careless actions. But if he could only make up for what he'd already done, maybe 
it wasn't too late for that other stuff. He at least had to salvage the friendship. 

~ * ~  @}--<---- ~ * ~
We do crazy things when we're wounded
Everyone's a bit insane
I don't want you catching your death of cold
out walking in the rain 
~ * ~  ----->--{@ ~ * ~

	He spotted a familiar bench up ahead, and was mildly surprised, (or maybe 
he wasn't…) to find a pathetic blonde, shoulders slumped in defeat, sitting 
helplessly all alone in the storm. Her pigtails were strewn around her and she kept 
her head down in defeat and rejection. Mamoru paused and took a deep breath. It 
was now or never. 



~ * ~  @}--<---- ~ * ~
And we're always at each other's throats
You know it drives me up a wall
But most the time we're just blowing off steam
~ * ~  ----->--{@ ~ * ~

: : 7:16 pm : : 

	"Us…Usagi?" Mamoru muttered, knocked speechless by the furious and 
tearful figure, now shaking like a leaf. 
	"That's it Mamoru. I don't know what game you're trying to play, but I 
will not be made a fool of anymore!" She said in a hushed voice. She stood up 
swiftly, knocking her chair back in the motion and stared angrily down at a 
confused and frantic Mamoru, who could only gape openly in retaliation. 
	"You invite me over, for whatever reason, and then do nothing but insult 
me!" Her voice grew with each word and she turned on her heel and went for the 
door, a newly sensitized Mamoru close at her heels. 
	"Usagi, please wait. Just let me explain -." He said quickly, his eyes 
searching her taught, firm body for a semblance of regret or hesitance. But as she 
spun around and met his eyes, he stopped in his tracks. 
	"Why?" She asked, the tears not bothering to stop anymore. They flowed 
freely down her face, breaking Mamoru's poor, ignorant heart as each one fell. 
His jaw tightened and he prepared himself for the verbal abuse his heart was 
about to take. "So you can just poke fun at my cooking, organization, or 
coordination some more? You know, you forgot how horrible I am in school!" 
Her voice broke with sobs and she grabbed her purse off the rack and threw open 
the front door. Mamoru gather what little pride and dignity he had left and 
scampered guiltily after her. 
	Before she left though, she turned around and gave a rare, helpless, 
frightened and confused gaze through the constant flow of tears. With a steady 
voice and tone that only seemed to envelope all of his senses, she asked him one 
last question. 
	"What's this all about Mamoru? Do you really hate me this much?" She 
stared, wholly and openly at Mamoru, searching his eyes for the answer she so 
obviously wanted. Her lip quivered and she shook her head, uncaring. With a look 
of disgust and loathing, she turned on the ball of her foot and left. 

~ * ~  @}--<---- ~ * ~
And I wish to God you'd leave me
I wish to God you'd stay
Life's so different than it is in your dreams
~ * ~  ----->--{@ ~ * ~

	Mamoru's stance broke and he leaned, broken and wounded, against the 
frame of his open door, watching the retreating form of Usagi as she bolted down 
the hall towards the elevator. Every limb in his body felt weak and he let his eyes 
continue to stare and hope, long after she had disappeared in one of the many lifts. 
It was all he could do to tear his unforgiving gaze away, but he reluctantly pulled 
his weak body inside the apartment and shut the door behind him. 
	He felt so deflated and defeated. His feelings for Usagi were so strange 
and foreign; he had just begun to become accustomed with them. And now the 
whole fight was already over, and had been painfully lost. He had envisioned a 
perfect evening, ending with his confessions of a need for her affection. He had 
wanted her to look into his eyes and realize all that he had been experiencing the 
past weeks. He wanted to be as open with her as she was with him. 
	But somehow it all got turned around. He was his usual cruel, unthinking 
self. He had slipped into old habits and resorted to childish name-calling when he 
should have let his thoughts and feelings in. All he really desired was to utter 
these feelings aloud. But instead, when he'd opened his mouth, once again he'd 
promptly stuck his foot there. 


~ * ~  @}--<---- ~ * ~
So please call me baby
where ever you are
It's too cold to be out walking in the streets
~ * ~  ----->--{@ ~ * ~


	"Usagi?" Mamoru called, his feet picking up as much speed as they could 
under the conditions and taking him closer to the saddened form on the bench. It 
took her a few seconds for the sound to drift through the wind and sleet and rain 
towards her. By the time he was but a few feet from her, she glanced up, 
confused, only to become alarmed and angered, a few stray tears falling 
obliviously from her already blood shot eyes. She stared hard at the figure 
approaching and briefly showed signs of retreating, but stayed put. 
	"Usagi, what are you doing out here?" He asked absently, pulling off his 
water repellent over coat and shaking his head. He threw it over her bare 
shoulders and then held his umbrella over her head, only to have her look down at 
her feet. "You're going to catch pneumonia, Usa, you need to get inside." His 
voice softened as he got closer and he pulled her tenderly up in his arms, rubbing 
her biceps through the fabric of the coat for warmth. 
	She looked up at him, her eyes awash with amazement, confusion and 
hesitation. He gave her a half smile, and he knew it showed most of his apologies 
right through the careless demeanor. She didn't utter a sound, just stared into his 
soft, warm blue expanse. 
	He let an impulse carry him and he let his hands work there way in 
between the jacket and her skin, and envelope her in a tight, gentle hug. She 
stiffened, repelled at first, but not pulling away. She muttered a squeak in 
response, but Mamoru let his mind go light when he felt her muscles loosen and 
give in to the feeling. She snaked her own arms slowly around his waist and 
rested her head upon his chest, her soaking hair making spots on his clean white 
shirt. Mamoru inhaled a deep breath and titled his head down towards hers as 
much as he could. 
	"Gomen ne, Usagi-chan…." He muttered softly, marveling at the scent 
that still wafted into his senses, the scent of Tsukino Usagi. He could feel her 
heart beat and he let his breathing comply willingly with it. 
	"Arigatou, Mamoru…."

~ * ~  @}--<---- ~ * ~
We do crazy things when we're wounded
Everyone's a bit insane
I don't want you catching your death of cold
out walking in the rain
~ * ~  ----->--{@ ~ * ~


------>--{@  *~*~*~* @}--<-------
Did you like? Was it any good? I didn't have a chance to re-read it once it was 
done, and it is currently three in the morning, so no one is around to tell me what 
they think. *crosses her fingers * Here's hoping you all enjoyed it! This was 
rather impulsive, but still took me a few good hours to crank out! Like I said, it's 
way too late, but I was on a role, and not about to break out of it! ^_^ Again, tell 
me what you think! De wa minna! 

slr_europa@yahoo.com

http://www.geocities.com/slr_europa/

AIM :: SeeShelliRun