Hmm . . . everyone must be on some sort of feedback 
strike or something, cause I was *very* disappointed by the 
lack of mail I got from everyone.  But domo arigato to those 
very few who did write me about it; you are now at the top 
of my "bestest-best friends" list! 
	Just to let you know, I *totally* made up the 
name of the park, (got it out of my dictionary, actually).  
That's about the only thing that would belong to me, since 
no matter how I try, I cannot lay claim to any of the 
characters, just the plot.  






"A Birthday Wish Come True"
by Sailor Elysia



Part Three: A Secret Revealed





	The moment the last person left her house, Usagi 
sprinted the half mile to Tengoku Park, the distance not 
even bothering her, since she was so used to running 
everywhere anyway.  Just as the sun was dipping low in 
the sky, she walked into the small clearing surrounding 
the small lake, the rose gardens just off to her left.  
She sighed loudly and plopped down on the small wooden 
bench closest to the shore of the lake.  

	She didn't see anyone immediately, so she wasn't 
too concerned, but as five minutes became ten, then 
twenty, she was beginning to wonder if she had gotten her 
hopes up.  She placed her chin in her hands and sighed 
again, preparing herself for a long wait.



		^*^*^*^*^*^



	I stood in the shadows of a nearby oak tree, just 
watching her, something that I could find pleasure in for 
hours.  She looks so much like an angel at this moment-- 
her ponytails shining like gold in the pink, orange, and 
yellow hues of the sunset; her azure eyes sparkling like 
sapphires.  The white dress she's wearing only 
compliments her beauty.  I don't think I've ever seen 
anything as lovely as she is right now in my entire life.  

	I want so much to be near her, to show her how 
much I love her.  It's true.  I finally admitted it to 
myself that I do indeed love her.  I love her more than 
I ever thought it was possible to love anyone or anything.  
Oh, Usako . . . I can't hide it any longer.



		^*^*^*^*^*^



	Another tear squeezed out and rolled down her 
face.  Usagi didn't bother to wipe it away.  What a way to 
be spending her birthday: alone in the middle of the park 
waiting for some mystery person who probably wouldn't 
even show up.  She didn't need this.  Birthdays were 
supposed to be happy, not something to cry over.

	Suddenly a very familiar voice broke through her 
thoughts.  "Konban wa, Odango Atama.  What brings you 
out here alone on such a nice night?"  Her head whipped 
up and around to see Mamoru standing at the end of the 
bench she was sitting on, smiling that quirky grin of his.  
Usagi slumped over again, her chin being propped up by 
her hands.  "Go away, Mamoru-kun.  I'm in no mood for 
your name-calling."

	To her surprise, he sat down on the bench 
anyway, she unaware of his extended gaze on her.  "Sorry, 
Odango.  I came to enjoy the sunset, and this bench just 
happens to be the best spot for it.  Why are you so 
gloomy, anyway?  It's not like you."

	"Why would you care?  It's not like it's your 
birthday or anything," she snapped, then looked away 
again, shocked and embarrassed at her own behavior.  
She never acted this way, even at her lowest points.  

	He leaned back, and laid an arm on the back of 
the bench.  "I had no idea you were so against birthdays, 
Usagi-chan," Mamoru replied, expecting another retort.  
Instead, she began to sob quietly.  Not her usual "I'm-
gonna-be-late" or "someone-mentioned-food" wailing, but 
very real, heart-wrenching sobs.

	Not wanting to startle her, Mamoru ever so 
slowly moved his hand from the back of the bench around 
to her shoulder, in an attempt to comfort her.  He hadn't 
expected to get quite a reaction out of her by a simple 
meeting in the park.  Perhaps it wasn't so simple anymore.  

	To his surprise and slight joy, she didn't shrug 
him off, but only continued to cry into his shoulder.  
Through her sobs, she told him all what had happened that 
day, emphasizing heavily on the troubled feelings the note 
had given her.

	Mamoru didn't know what to say.  Because of his 
"little" plan to give her the note and lead her to the park 
just so he could finally work up enough courage to tell her 
how he felt about her, he had caused so very different 
feelings to arise in her instead.  

	He left his arm around her, and patted her arm in 
reassurance.  "Usagi-chan, if it's your birthday then you 
shouldn't be feeling like this.  C'mon, where's that smile 
of yours?"  She looked up into his face and attempted to 
smile, it growing little by little as she noticed how happy 
he seemed to be.  'Why would someone like Mamoru like 
spending time with me?  It just doesn't make sense, but 
neither has the rest of this day,' she thought to herself.



		^*^*^*^*^*^



	The smile that gradually appeared on Usagi's 
face sent my nerves into shock and turned the rest of me 
into putty, much like I always did when I'm near her.  
'How does she do it?  How can such a small person hold 
so much power over me?'  I wanted nothing more than to 
tell her everything right then, but I held back.

	I had been so into my thoughts, that I hadn't 
noticed that Usagi had stood up and moved to stand in 
front of me.  She stared down at me quizzically.  "Arigato 
for your friendship, Mamoru.  I feel much better now that 
I've gotten everything out.  I suppose I should go home 
now, seeing that this mystery person of mine isn't going 
to show up.  Good night, Mamoru-kun." 

	My head snapped up, as I realized that I was about 
to lose my only chance as well as my courage, my hand shot 
out and gently took hold of her wrist.  "Usa-chan, wait, 
please," I whispered huskily.  "I have sort of a confession 
to make."  Her eyes widened at my sudden touch, but she said 
nothing.  She gazed into my blue eyes again, and I don't 
know what she saw there, but I'm sure it was much different 
than the other times she had looked at me.  She sat down 
again next to me, a beguiling smile playing upon her lips.  
"All right, Mamoru, what is this confession of yours?"

	'It *would* be like her to be amused at this.'  
"Usa, all I ask of you is for you to listen to what I have 
to say."  It was all I could do to *not* call her Usako out 
loud.  My heart was crying out for me to pull her into my 
embrace, but I didn't want to scare her away.  That was the 
last thing I wanted to happen.  My tongue tied at that 
moment as I glanced at her again, with the light of the half 
moon settled in the western sky shining down upon her.  
She appeared so calm, so ethereal, that it took my breath 
away once more.

	She placed a small hand on my arm, and her 
other hand came up to turn my face towards hers so she 
could look me in the eye.  If I had been standing, my 
knees would have given out on me for sure.  "Are you 
planning to tell me any time soon, Mamoru-kun, or are 
you going to keep me here all night?"

	I looked into her face, and knew right then I had 
to get control of myself before I spoke another word.  The 
only way I could do that was to stand up so I could look 
down upon her.  I had no idea I could be so nervous over 
such a trivial thing.  Then again, this *is* Usako and 
perhaps my whole future with her at stake.  Maybe . . . the 
rose gardens would be a better setting for this.  That's 
where I planned for all of this to happen all along anyway.

	I stood up quickly, taking Usagi's small hand in 
mine, and swiftly walked the few feet over to the small 
rose garden.  I silently reveled in the feeling of having 
her hand in mine.  It was a feeling I never wanted to let 
go of.  As I turned around, I was faced with a very 
confused, very beautiful Usagi, and I could see that she 
was getting more and more impatient with the way I was 
acting.



		^*^*^*^*^*^



	Finally, after putting up with his odd behavior, 
Usagi jerked her hand from Mamoru and glared at him.  
It was time to take charge here.  "I want to know what's 
going on, Mamoru, and I won't take another step until I 
do.  What ever it is you have to say, just say it!"  He 
stared back, and finally, his shoulders lifted and fell 
in a act of submission.

	"All right, Usagi, you win.  But before I say 
anything more, why don't you tell me exactly what the 
card you got today said."  

	She took a step back, puzzled by what Mamoru 
had asked of her.  Still, if that was the only way to 
find out what his big secret was, it didn't matter much.  
Usagi inhaled deeply, trying to recall the words which had 
caused her so much turmoil today.  She walked away from 
him, and stopped at one of the rosebushes, delicately 
fingering the petals of the buds.  "It said . . . 'there 
is so much more I'd love to tell you, but I feel it would 
be better to do it in person.  So I would be most grateful 
if you would meet me by the lake . . .'" 

	". . . near the rose gardens tonight around sunset.  
I promise you a birthday you will never forget,'"  Mamoru 
softly finished for her.  Usagi whirled around, her eyes 
wide as saucers.  "How did you know?"  He slowly 
walked over to where she was standing, reached down and 
took her hand in his, and tipped her chin up.  "Because 
Usa--Usako . . . I was the one who wrote it."

	If her eyes could have gotten any wider, they 
would have from hearing his declaration.  She couldn't 
move, all she could say was, " Y--you?  *You* wrote that 
note, Mamoru?"  He hung his head sheepishly and 
nodded.

	Usagi brought a trembling hand up to her face, 
unsure of what she'd see in his eyes, but as she looked up 
into his handsome face, she found his facial features soft, 
with a new emotion shining in his eyes that had rarely ever 
been seen.  Realization dawned in her mind, and her face 
broke into a smile.  

	"You know, you are the last person I thought that 
would have ever done this,"  she paused, seeing the 
distressed look appear on his face. "But," she grasped his 
large warm hand with her delicate one, "all along, I hoped, 
even wished, it would be you."  Usagi brought her other 
hand up, and softly ran it against his cheek, tears shining 
in her eyes now.  "Arigato, Mamo-chan.  You were right.  
This has been a wonderful birthday."  She threw her arms 
around his neck and gave him a hug in gratitude, then 
slowly backed away so she could look at him again.

	Usagi quickly wiped away the tears forming in her 
eyes, and then noticed an unfamiliar shining present in 
the eyes of the handsome young man gazing fondly down upon 
her.  Her hand came up to her mouth, and covered it.  
"Mamo-chan, are you . . . are you crying?"  She was 
shocked to see him this way, for she never thought she 
would ever encounter Mamoru this way.

	He seemed uncomfortable at her question, and 
although her knew the pent-up tears of the last nineteen 
years of his life were aching to be let out, his ego wouldn't 
allow it.  There would be other times for that.  He passed 
the back of his hand over his eyes quickly, removing the 
evidence that there had ever been any sign of tears.  

	A quick smile appeared on his lips, and he shook 
his head in exasperation.  "'Mamo-chan'.  How did you 
ever come up with that name?"  She returned the smile, 
and shrugged her shoulders.  "I might ask you the same 
thing.  Why 'Usako'?"  He playfully tugged on one of her 
ponytails, his face lightly blushing as he recalled the 
memory.  "Simple.  I like to think of you as my little 
rabbit.  Is that all right with you?"

	She ducked her head, and nodded shyly, blushing 
as she did so.  Mamoru brought his hand up, lifted her 
chin, then slowly traced a finger down the side of her 
face gently, marveling at how beautiful she had suddenly 
become in the moonlight.  She shivered in delight at his 
touch.  "I have something else to give you," he replied 
softly, and took a small object wrapped in paper from his 
pocket.  He placed the parcel in her small hand, and 
within moments, Usagi had it unwrapped and gasped at 
the sight of it.  

	Laying in her palm was the most beautiful 
necklace she had ever laid her eyes upon.  Connected to a 
delicate silver chain was a small rose pendant, slightly 
tinted with pink to enhance its beauty.  Usagi bit her lip 
as Mamoru lifted it from her hand and proceeded to clasp it 
around her neck.  His hands remained at her shoulders, 
and she responded with arms flying around his waist, 
giving him another hug which was much tighter and 
warmer than the first.  

	She pulled away, meaning to voice her thanks for 
the necklace.  "Mamo-chan, I--"  But at that moment, their 
eyes locked, and time seemed to stand still.  Nothing in 
the outside world mattered to the two standing in the 
midst of the rose garden.  Slowly, ever so slowly,  
Mamoru brought his hand up to Usagi's face, similar to 
the way she had done earlier.  He stroked her cheek 
gently, and then no longer able to avoid the inevitable, 
he bent down and softly pressed his lips to hers.

	"Mamo-chan," Usagi murmured when they finally 
broke apart, and she snuggled into his warmth, "when's 
*your* birthday?"











	Yes, that would be the end of it. *glances around 
the room, watching the sappiness drip down the walls*  
Yep, it's sappy, and I'm dang proud of it.  Most of you 
know by now how much of a hopeless romantic I am, so 
this shouldn't surprise you. *sheepish grin*
	With the end of this fic, I'm taking a break.  I 
only have about a month (6 1/2 weeks to be exact, but 
who's counting? *big grin*) left in the semester, and even 
though I hate to say it, but I have to take some time off.  
This doesn't mean I won't be writing, I have some other 
fics that I might post in the mean time.  
	Feel free to email me, even just to talk!  I live 
on email, since my real box tends to come up empty.  
Besides, I hate talking to myself so much, and my 
roommates get boring (and annoying) real fast.  ^_^  
I hate begging, but *gets down on her knees*  
"Stop the insanity!  PLEASE send me some email!"
	Domo arigato again for everyone's support, 
and I hope to hear from you soon! In case you forgot, 
the email addy is julcie@juno.com.

Ja ne!
Elysia-chan



This story copyright February/March 1999

Sailor Moon and all its characters are the rightful 
property of Naoko Takeuchi, Toei Animation, Kodansha 
Ltd., Bandai.  English adaptation is copyright 1995 
DiC Corporations.

(To all those big cheese people out there who have 
nothing better to do than to scour harmless people's 
fanfics for meaningless disclaimers, here it is!!)