23A.N: I haven't done this for a while! Hello again everyone. This is another one-shot or chapter I've been working on - on and off - for a while. The original idea was actually from AuroraFireMadness and she also helped beta the first couple of drafts as well. But recently I was in a writing mood and thought the story actually felt right somehow as it was as though it had reached the natural end point. I felt like it would lose something special if I altered it further. Hopefully my readers enjoy it! Please read and review and let me know what you all think. I'd also appreciate it if you'd tell me your thoughts on my other fic I posted recently called The Hope Of A Blue Moon if you are so inclined!
Birthday Gift Chaos
Mamoru didn't know what to do this year. He usually had at least a few different ideas for what to get Usagi for her birthday. It wasn't like he hadn't put out a few feelers to see her reactions to certain things. Or been listening whenever she had a positive reaction to something around him. He'd even secretly gotten Ami to keep an ear out when the girls were all together just in case she had gushed about how wonderful something was when she was with the girls and then not mentioned it to him. The odds of that actually happening were very low. This was Usako for crying out loud! But still…he didn't have any ideas this year.
He had more than enough time to find her something. He KNEW that. But his mind was beginning to panic. This hadn't happened before! He couldn't be running out of gift ideas for her already could he!? He was going to have to call in some back up for this mission.
He sat down in the Crown Game Parlour with his ubiquitous and practically trademark bitter blend of coffee and began to think. He knew Rei wasn't the most naturally romantic of the girls. Her and Minako were the queens of different kinds of style while Ami seemed to be practical but sweet. She had something different that was all her own. When it came to romance, to dating? This situation seemed to be one where Makoto and Minako together would be the most helpful. As well as them being the most naturally romantic they'd probably come up with a variety of different ideas together between them. He finished his coffee and reached out for his phone. He rang Makoto first and waited for her to answer.
Makoto was busy working on a batch of muffins, waiting for them to cool when her phone began to buzz. Who was that now? Was it Usagi wanting to talk about some Senshi business? Or was it Ami calling to plan the next group study session for the girls? She picked up her phone as she took off her oven gloves and looked at the phone in confusion when she saw the name on the screen. Mamoru? It wasn't too often that he called.
"Hey Mamoru! Is something up? You don't usually call us. Can I help?" She asked with a cheerful tone.
"It's funny you should mention that. I was kind of hoping for some help with Usagi's birthday gift. Do you suppose you could call Minako too? Or arrange for the two of you to meet me and give me a bit of 'assistance'?" He asked somewhat nervously with a laugh in the tone of his voice.
"I'll call her. Don't worry. I'll meet you in the shopping district next to the Jinja. Sound good? And what sort of gift did you have in mind?" She asked curiously. As she waited for an answer she spread icing over the muffins. What sort was best? Chocolate? Vanilla? Some sort of fruit icing? She shrugged and began to spread vanilla icing over the muffins slowly. Helping Mamoru with a gift for Usagi? This would be fun!
Mamoru felt himself internally cringing when she asked what kind of gift he had in mind. "That's kind of the problem. Usually I have a few different possibilities depending on what you all want to get her or if there's one thing in particular she's clearly desperate for but this year I'm out of ideas. I'm starting to panic." He let this all out in a rush feeling the weight fly off his shoulders. But at the same time he didn't want Makoto or any of the others thinking he was a fool.
Makoto tried not to smile - she didn't think those two realised how cute they could be together or because of each other some times - as she put the last touches to her latest culinary work. One that would no doubt disappear in seconds. She'd need to make a second batch later. "Don't worry. Me and Minako will help I promise. See you there after 11?" She asked, getting an affirmative. "Bye Mamoru!" She called before hanging up the phone.
Mamoru didn't quite know what to expect as he waited inside the Shimonura shopping complex. He certainly hadn't wanted to be surrounded by couples. Not that shows of affection were a bad thing! He knew he and Usako were just as guilty of them as the next couple. Today was just not the right day for him to see those right and centre though.
Thankfully just as his eyes and brain could only take so much he spotted Minako's long hair with her distinct red bow and Makoto's definitive height and rose earrings and rushed over. "Please tell me you can help?" He asked hopefully.
The girls turned to each other and smirked, teasing him. Minako then laughed softly and nodded slowly. "Don't worry. We can help! You know me, I'm Minako Aino, fashion superstar!" She winked, complete with red carpet pose and classic V symbol.
Makoto just rolled her eyes and took Minako's hand. Her and Mamoru had already started searching. "Stop posing and start searching Mina!"
Mina pouted and started to whine a little and Mamoru looked over to her.
"Do you see anything here?" He asked curiously, clearly looking lost.
Minako and Makoto began to take turns looking through the clothes they could see with assistance from Mamoru. There were beautiful dresses, almost the equal of what they'd seen of Silver Millennium fashion. But wasn't that too much? All three of them agreed on that and went deeper. What else could they find?
After a decent amount of entirely fruitless searching Mamoru turned to face them both with a tired expression. "Tell you what, we've been at this for a while. Why don't we take a lunch break in the food court?" He offered and smiled softly. Mako enthusiastically nodded and dragged the other two to one of the nearby restaurants. Supposedly it was some form of Italian as it seemed to specialise in pasta. None of them were feeling particularly talkative until most of the way through the meal. Minako finished her last morsel and turned to face Mamoru.
"Are you sure you've not got any ideas? You usually have this kind of thing down? I mean sure those dresses were a bit over the top but has she not mentioned anything about jewellery or manga? Or maybe you could use those rose talents of yours?" She teased playfully. "Maybe you could even get her something…private? You know what I mean?"
Mamoru knew exactly what she meant. All three of them did. But he made a point of actively ignoring her when she was like this. The girls had made it clear to him over the years that Mina – when she was like this – usually did at least ONE incredibly stupid or crazy thing before the gathering was over.
As they finished their meals Mamoru's phone began to buzz somewhat loudly. Trying to silence his cheesy ringtone he answered the phone as soon as possible. Usagi had recently changed her ring on his phone to something about miracle romances. Or was it something about the moon's revenge? He was too tired to remember at the moment. Not that he disliked the song. it did seem to fit them.
"What is it Usa? Is everything ok?" He asked her kindly but not wanting to give away anything.
"Mamo-chan! Where are you? I thought I'd see you at the Crown but Motoki and Reika said you were only there for about five minutes this morning and then did a runner! Is everything ok? I couldn't find most of the girls either." She explained nervously, clearly worried about whatever was happening.
Mamoru blushed softly and smiled reassuringly on instinct even though she couldn't see him. "Don't worry Usagi. Today is one of those days I need to study remember? There's a big test on Thursday. I thought I mentioned it to you the other day. Or did I forget? Either way don't worry. I'll see you tomorrow." He promised calmly and tried to not give away what he was doing.
"Ok Mamo-chan I'll see you tomorrow. But I'll hold you to that! No more studying! You need movies and ice cream!" She promised cheerfully. As he hung up the phone after some goodbyes he noticed both the girls were looking at him with exactly the same expression. A combination of gossipy curiosity and panic as they suddenly realised neither of them had a cover for if she phoned them.
"She's beginning to realise I'm up to something. Be on guard. You know how persistent she can be."
The girls nodded silently. As silly as it was, this situation was now effectively battle prep in terms of how they were treating it. When Usagi called they came up with a joint excuse - something about Mina coercing Mako to help her prep for a shoot by being a rather unwilling dance partner. They were going to regret that later. But they had to say something!
Minako got a smirk on her face at one point and pushed the other two into a shop that specialised in women's underwear. Mako and Mamoru clearly didn't understand her plan. She grabbed an outfit and pulled it out, using her body as a semi-accurate mirror for Usagi's. She wasn't wearing the outfit. But still…
Makoto and Mamoru turned to face each other. The look of horror on their face was equal as well as the green tinge to their faces. They both ran out, desperately trying not to imagine Usagi wearing…that. Mina couldn't stop laughing as she left the room behind them.
"Oh god no!" Mamoru called out once he came back to the centre of the shopping area. That was a…horrific image. He looked around and smiled when he saw something beautiful. He picked up a wonderful bracelet of the moon. The moon and a beautiful rabbit. He smiled and arranged to have a personalised inscription.
"To Usagi. I love you. I always will. You are my angel. You have been for a millennium and you will be for a thousand eternities. Happy birthday my love."
He held the bracelet gently and showed it to the ladies. "I guess I had an idea after all." He laughed gently. "But thanks for all the help. You know how desperate I was when I asked.
Minako nodded and smiled broadly as they began to leave the shopping centre. "Good job Tux Boy! I'm sure she'll love it. I know I would have done if I was her." She admitted softly under her breath to herself when she thought no one was listening.
The other two both made their best efforts to reassure that she'd find the right person eventually whoever that turned out to be. They all would. Usagi had Mamoru after all. That meant the others would have somebody out there for them.
As they began to go their separate ways for now the imperial purple sky exploded with colour as a shooting star flew across the depths of space. They all had their separate private wishes. But they also knew the rule. You can't tell anyone else or it won't come true. Secretly trying not to blush, Mamoru began to walk home. It would be a few days yet before Usagi's actual birthday but he could already imagine her golden shining smile.
A.N: So what did you think? Thanks for reading! Hopefully you will hear from me soon!