Christmas Special Part 2
Ami looked at herself in the mirror and was very pleased with what she saw. A sleeveless silk gown of deep blue, with a long train, embroidered in silver that went well with the light-blue scarf around her throat. She also wore long white gloves, and her ears adorned by blue topaz studs that caught the light whenever she moved.
Just as she was putting the final touches to her hair, in which she had pinned a bluebell, picked fresh from her garden, the doorbell rang. Her mother answered it, and Troy Osaka, wearing a dark blue tuxedo, with a white carnation in his lapel, bowed gallantly before her. “For the lovely lady,” he said, presenting Mizuno Tomoko with a bouquet of pink carnations.
“Thank you,” she said pleasantly surprised and cradled the blooms, a look of joy on her face, as Ami came out. Troy bowed again and presented her with a bouquet of white carnations. “You’re looking quite elegant,” he announced with a wide smile. “I am honored to be at your side tonight.”
Ami blushed as she took the bouquet. “These are very lovely,” she said, shyly. “Thank you very much.”
“The pleasure is all mine.” Troy offered her his arm. “ Shall we?” She smiled as she laid her hand on his arm.
“Have a good time,” Tomoko, said, smiling at how well matched her daughter and her companion looked.
“Thanks, mom,” Ami said, over her shoulder.
“I’ll look after her,” Troy promised, and Tomoko hid another smile as she closed the door after the couple. She would never have dreamed that her quiet, shy daughter would have found love with a man this soon, being only eighteen, but it was a very pleasing state of affairs. Troy Osaka was a respectable man, a well-known composer, and he was very well mannered to boot. He would be a good husband for her daughter, and Tomoko smiled again as she thought of what her husband had said when she had first told him of their daughter’s suitor.
“If he’s got a good head on his shoulders, and a good heart,” Mizuno Shingo had said, “then I don’t care if he’s as poor as a church mouse, so long as he can make my daughter happy. I don’t want her marrying him for his money. It’s not the money that makes a good marriage, but the happiness of two hearts beating as one. No one can be better off than when they have someone walking beside them on the road of life, sharing all its ups and downs, its rough patches and its smooth stretches.”
Tomoko, thinking of her husband’s words, knew that there was truth in them. And she knew that Ami loved Troy Osaka not for his money, but for the man he was, and she knew that her daughter would find her soul’s happiness as his wife.
Troy, invited to discuss his work helping people less fortunate than himself, had earned Ami’s respect -- Nicholas Rose had inspired Troy -- Ami sat in the front row listening to him speak. She thought about how great his heart must be, to share the same ideals held by his father, and those around him. She was extremely proud of him.
Talking with Makoto earlier that afternoon had made her realize life was simply too short to waste. If there was an opportunity for happiness staring you in the face, the taller girl had said, you had to grab it, or you would lose it and it would never come by again. ‘That,’ Makoto had said, with a rueful smile, ‘this almost happened to me. Luckily, Paige gave me the boot in the ass I needed. I realized I had something good going right under my nose; I was too stubborn and proud to see it. So, I took her advice, and I now have the best guy in the world. And I’m going to kick your butt, too. You and Troy were definitely meant for one another. I want you to tell him you love him tonight, and if you don’t, I’ll give you a black eye that will last a week, K?’
Ami had laughed at her friend’s mock-threatening tone, but at the same time, she’d known that the taller girl was right. And as she thought of Makoto’s words, she understood the truth of them. Troy loved her, and she loved him. O, why shouldn’t she tell him her feelings? After all, there was nothing wrong with being a Sailor Senshi and having a boyfriend. After all, Usagi had Mamoru, Rei had Scott, Makoto had Motoki, and they were as committed to their cause as ever. So there was no reason why she couldn’t have a boyfriend and remain a Sailor Senshi. Even Minako had kept her priorities in order when she and Jamie had gone out. Ami knew the Senshi of love would be the first to tell her to tell Troy she loved him.
After Troy’s talk had concluded to rousing applause, supper was served, and Ami joined him at the buffet table.
“That was very well done,” she told him, slipping her hand through his arm, and he smiled at her and covered her hand with his.
“I’m glad to hear you say that,” he told her, squeezing her hand. “It makes my stage fright worthwhile. I was as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room filled with rocking chairs. You’re the reason I didn’t turn tail and bolt, Ami-chan.”
She was touched by these words and smiled at him. “I’m glad I was able to provide the incentive to keep you up there,” she responded with a grin.
He laughed and squeezed her hand once again. “You’ll always be the one incentive that keeps me going,” he told her, and a faint blush crept into her cheeks.
“I’m pleased to be of some help,” she said shyly, “even though I wonder what such a talented man as you would see in me.”
He smiled at her as he led her outside. “Many things,” he told her. It was quite cold outside, and Ami shivered a little, wishing she had had a chance to grab her wrap on the way. But the stars shone brilliantly in the black velvet of night, and the shimmering snow, a lustrous silvery-white. The house where the Cherry Society met overlooked the city. The Tokyo Tower shone like a giant Christmas tree, and everywhere Ami looked, houses shone with Christmas lights. It was like a carpet of multicolored splendor that spread out before her, and the clear air was keen and refreshing. All the same, Ami was glad for the arm Troy placed around her shoulders as he led her to one of the marble benches. She leaned against him gratefully as they sat down, and he reached for her other hand.
They sat like that for a little while in companionable silence. Then Troy spoke, “Ami-chan,” he said gently, his dark-grey eyes serious. “I want to tell you that you’re the most sweet, caring and beautiful woman I’ve ever met, and I hold you in the highest regard.”
She smiled. “And I hold you in the same regard,” she answered, in an otherworldly tone. “Aishiteru, Troy. I’ve loved you ever since our first meeting, and I can’t think of any other man as kind and loving as you.”
Troy released her hand so he could caress her cheek. “Aishiteru, Ami-chan, very much. You’re very special to me, and I know there’s no other woman I’d rather have by my side than you.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. Ami’s breath caught in her throat as he opened it, and took out the beautiful sapphire set in a ring of yellow gold. The sapphire cut in a circular fashion, and it glowed with a deep light as Troy took Ami’s left hand and slid the ring onto her third finger. “Ami-chan,” he said, looking up at her with his beautiful eyes. “Will you marry me?”
She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but she did know what her answer would be. “I’d love to,” she said, as joy and love welled in her heart. “Yes, I will.”
He smiled at her. “I’m very glad to hear that. You’re the only woman I would ever want to spend the rest of my life with.” He cupped her face in his hands and gently brought his lips down on hers, and she forgot all about the cold.
~*~
“Will someone please tell me again why I’m doing this?”
“Because Mamoru-san asked you to,” Makoto said, laughing.
Usagi glared at her as she pulled her thick coat on and wrapped her favorite pink scarf around her throat. “It’s freezing out there,” she said, crossly. “I hope Mamo-chan has a good reason for making me go out in this weather.”
“At least you can be thankful it’s not snowing,” Makoto said, and Usagi, standing at the threshold had thrown the door open and turned to face her friend, a wicked grin on her face as she blew a raspberry at Makoto and left, muttering to herself.
It was very cold, and Usagi shivered as she walked to the railway park. Not many people were out, and those who chose to brave the elements were as well wrapped as she. Mamoru often asked her to meet him in the little ornamental garden in the centre of the park, because it was a perfect place for them to meet and talk intimately. Sometimes Mamoru would often bring a rug and they would spend a few hours alone in the little garden, but there was something about tonight’s rendezvous that made Usagi suspect her lover was up to something. When she reached the garden, she noticed it was empty, save the candles placed around the perimeter of the stone pavement, these set in the shape of a heart burning steadily in the still sanctuary -- the ornamental bushes and flowers encircling this sacred space -- the candlelight creating a soft golden corona enveloping the flowers. Usagi looked around as she climbed the three steps leading to its center. She knew Mamoru was behind this. Usagi found this all quite interesting as she turned in a slow circle, looking for other such preparations.
At that moment, she felt a cool whisper of air brush her cheek -- a red rose landed upon the ground at her feet. She stared at it for a long moment, and then turned to see a dark shape standing at the edge of the line of candles. There was no hat, but she could see a cloak, and one slender eyebrow arched. “Very interesting, Mamo-chan, or should I say, Tuxedo Kamen?”
He stepped into the candlelight; she noticed his white-eye mask was missing from this romantic setting. “I decided to make a very dramatic entrance,” he said, with a gallant bow. “How do you like the arrangement, Usako?” indicating the candles.
“Very much,” Usagi said smiling, as she once again soaked in the resplendent arrangement of golden light. “May I be so bold as to assume there’s a good reason for this beautiful presentation.”
“Come with me and you’ll find out,” Mamoru invited, offering her his hand. She took it.
They walked across the park, and when they came to its border, Mamoru turned to face her. “Close your eyes,” he ordered. “No peeking.”
She did as she was asked, more bemused than ever, and then she felt him lift her in his arms. And he began to move along the path, and knew they were descending a flight of stairs. She kept her eyes tightly closed, and when she heard the trickling water, she knew this would be oh-so special. Mamoru had chosen this location because of the enchanting small, natural hollow that Mother Nature had cut into the grey stone long ago that lay on the northern rim of the park. Ferns and a little stream flowed down a series of granite terraces from above, disappearing into a tunnel, and when Mamoru set her down, she was almost afraid to open her eyes.
“You can look now,” Mamoru told her.
She did so, and gasped in awe. Candles lit the natural grotto, bathing it with a rose gold light, and when she examined it more closely, her eyes filled with tears. The tiny tea lights were very cleverly arranged to spell the words, “Will you marry me?”
She turned to Mamoru, standing before her, holding a small velvet box in his hand, a smile on his face. “Mamo-chan?” she gasped, scarcely able to believe her eyes.
“Well?” he asked, looking at her with those intoxicating eyes she knew she would never grow tired of and smiled. “You will?”
“I…I…” She was so overwhelmed; her power of coherent speech deserted her.
Mamoru opened the box and drew the ring out; fashioned from the finest white gold. When Usagi saw the stones, her eyes filled with fresh tears. It was her dream ring, a pink diamond cut in the shape of a flower, with a crescent moon cut into the centre, surrounded by tiny white diamonds. He went down on one knee and took her left hand, sliding the ring onto her third finger. “Usako, will you marry me?” he asked in that adoringly wonderful voice she loved so well, as he clasped her hand tightly in his and looked up at her, his midnight blue eyes aglow with emotion.
“Oh, Mamo-chan,” she breathed, as she looked down at the ring shining on her finger. “Of course I will. Nothing would make me happier.”
He rose and enfolded her within his arms, wrapping his cloak around her. “I just couldn’t bear the thought of living my life without you,” he said, looking down into her shimmering sapphire-blue eyes. “You’re so sweet and beautiful, and you’re the only woman I could ever love.” Then he kissed her, and crystalline tears slid from under closed eyelids. It was the perfect Christmas present, and she couldn’t possibly imagine anything else that could make her as happy as she was now. But there was a slight shadow on her happiness, and when Mamoru lifted his head, she voiced the thought that dampened her joy ever so slightly. “What will Daddy say?”
Mamoru smiled down at her. “He gave me the money to buy the ring,” he told his fiancé, and she stared at him in bewilderment.
“I thought he hated your guts,” she said, puzzled.
“No he doesn’t,” Mamoru, told her. “It was all an act on his part. He wanted to see how I would hold up under his supposed disapproval, and according to him, I passed the test. He’s very happy for us, and told me if I didn’t make you happy, then he really would chase me out of Tokyo with a shotgun. He suspected we were lovers before you moved out of home, and accepted that knowing we were truly in love and bound to one another. So there you go, Usako. Your father was never opposed to us, and he’s going to apologize to you for putting you under such strain. You remember how the King sent us those nightmares. He wanted to see how our love would hold up, and we passed the test. Your dad was doing much the same thing.”
Usagi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “You mean, it was all a ruse?” she demanded, and Mamoru nodded, smiling. “Ikuko-san all but gave him concussion when he put his cards on the table. It was the most hilarious sight. She knew the exact nature of our relationship.“
”I know,” Usagi, told him, a gentle smile forming on her lips. “But I still can’t believe Daddy wasn’t for real. I could kill him for what he put me through.”
“He would be less than pleased if you weren’t happy,” Mamoru told her, and she smiled, conceding the point.
“You’re right.” Then she looked up at Mamoru with luminescent eyes. “I still can’t believe that you really want to marry me. Are you doing it because you really love me, or simply because it’s our destiny?” Her voice, a little uncertain, and he held her closer.
“Usako, you should know better than to ask me that,” he gently chided and smiled, kissing her forehead and stroking her plaits. “You know I love you for who you are, not because of our destinies. Even if we weren’t meant to rule the earth together, I would still want to marry you, because you’re you, Tsukino Usagi, not Princess Serenity, not Neo-Queen Serenity, not Sailor Moon, but Tsukino Usagi – my darling Odango Atama. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” Then he reached into his cloak and pulled the star locket out. He opened it and the little crescent moon revolved as the enchanting melody began to play, filling the night with rose petals, candlelight and a love the likes the Earth had never seen.
Usagi looked down at the precious locket in wonder. “You’ve had it all this time?” she asked, tears trickling down her cheeks and he nodded, brushing them gently away and kissed her lips lightly.
“I sure have,” Mamoru, told her. “And I’m going to give it back to you, because we’re reunited, and we’ll never be parted ever again.” He placed it in her palm and closed her fingers over it.
Usagi tucked the locket away and looked up at Mamoru. “Aishiteru, Chiba Mamoru. Forever and ever, no matter what happens.” Then their lips met once again in a scintillating kiss, arms wrapped tightly about one another as she ran her fingers through his jet-black hair and he held her warm body close to his.
