Sailor Moon does not belong to me.
I wish it was so but keep on dreaming. Sailor Moon belongs to
Naoki Takeuchi/Kodansha, TOEI Animation. I want to say thank
you to all those people who encourages me to write to continue writing.
Especially to Jade and Mako-chan.
Many thanks to my pre-reader who helped edit it for me.
I am grateful for many people's condolences when I came back
from my absense. Thank you.
Remember to visit my page at
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Pagoda/9613/
I usually add my fanfiction there before I submit it.
The character Annie
belongs to me and only me. The rest belongs to
Naoki Takeuchi/Kodansha, TOEI Animation.
It is a romance if you are looking for action this is not the
right place for you. This is an alternate reality. If you have
any questions about this storyline, please email me and I'll try
to explain it the best I can.
Visions of Sugarplums is a copyright of Serena Chiba@1998.
Now on with the story.
** means thinking
Vision of Sugarplums
by Serena Chiba
Chapter Two
The three of them looked like a family group as they walked around the discount
supercenter with Annie on Mamoru's arm while he pushed the shopping cart piled high
with baby things. It made no difference, of course; still Usagi was disturbed.
She kept glancing at the man and the baby; she couldn't help herself. Mamoru seemed
so natural with little Annie, so at ease. She wasn't the only one who noticed it.
The man and the child attracted their share of attention from other customers.
Usagi saw also, with a certain glacial humor, that the glances of most of the women
who passed lingered on the man.
Mamoru was totally oblivious; she had to give him that much. The major
portion of his attention was given to Annie as he tried to keep her pacified. He talked to
her in a constant running commentary, even directing his comments to Usagi through her.
It was distracting and a bit disturbing, as if the three really were interconnected.
She was also troubled by the sight of his long, brown fingers splayed over the
baby's back to support her while he reached for this or that. There seemed such tender
strength, such security, in his grasp. She wondered, in the briefest of flashes, what
it would be like to feel his hands on her own skin. Hard on the thought, she was
engulfed in a wave of heat that coalesced in the lower part of her body.
She fought it, amazed. It had been so long since such awareness had troubled
her that it felt unnaturally erotic, far too extreme for comfort.
They had reached the baby formula section. As they paused in front of
it, she gave Mamoru a considering look as she said, "You like children, don't you?"
"Kids, gods, cats, strays of all kinds," he said in humorous agreement.
"Don't you?"
"I suppose." His blue gaze was so warm and intent it was difficult to
sustain. "But I don't make a practice of taking them all in."
"No? Maybe you should try it more often."
Maybe she should at that, she thought as she studied the strong planes of
his face, the crinkles at the corners of his eyes, and the firmly molded lines of
his mouth.
She was staring. Realizing it, she hurriedly directed her gaze to the
different varieties of baby formula. In offhand tones, she said, "You know, we
have no idea what kind of formula this child is used to taking. How are we
supposed to choose?"
"Humm." He reached out and picked up a can in his large, square hand,
turning the label to show it to Annie. "What do you think, sweetie?"
The baby blinked without any particular recognition.
"Nope." he put it back, then chose again. "This one?"
Usagi found herself watching Annie, measuring her lack of enthusiasm.
As she recognized what she was doing, she made a soft sound of exasperation.
"Come on! This child no more knows what she's been drinking than the princess
of the moon. And it could upset her stomach if we choose the wrong one."
"Going hungry could upset her more," Mamoru said with maddening logic.
"Not to mention us, if we have to listen to her yell." He replaced the can, took
another one. The baby chortled and waved her hand at the bright aqua label.
"Aha!" he said, and began to dump cans into the shopping cart.
"Wait a minute!" Usagi protested, laughing even as she reached out to
stop him. "You can't do things that way."
He cocked an eyebrow at her. "Got a better idea?"
She didn't though she refused to admit it.
At least they knew what type of bottle to get. One like it had been tucked
into the back of the baby carrier along with a pacifier and a spare diaper.
All three items had been extremely useful in helping to return Annie to what was
apparently her normal sunny disposition on the drive to the supercenter. They moved
from the formula to the bottles, and from there to the baby food.
"What else?" Mamoru asked, scanning the grocery aisles as he wheeled the cart
along at a fast clip, one that required Usagi to extend her stride to keep up.
"I don't know."
"Think," he said, then slowed as if putting on the brakes as he noticed her
breathless pace. "You're the female. You're supposed to know about these things."
She gave him an acerbic look. "It doesn't come with the genes."
"You're doing fine so far."
She felt as if she had been given a major accolade. The pleasure that flooded
her was as disconcerting as it was unwelcome. Flushing, she avoided his gaze as she
began to count off items on her fingers. "Clothes, pajamas, diapers, wipes, baby soap,
baby food, formula, bottles, dish and spoon, sipping cup. Oh, yes, and toys."
She sighed and pulled a wry face. "I think we've got most of what's needed."
"Great," he said, then added instantly. "So have you given any thought
to what the grown-ups need? Food, for instance?"
The stare she swung on him was blank. "You're hungry?"
"Just starving is all."
"I didn't realize I was expected to feed you, too."
He lifted a thick, dark brow. "No? Actually, I thought we'd try it the
other way around. I'll feed you, since I don't imagine you've had a chance to
eat this evening."
"You don't have to do that."
"I know, but I want to do it," he said with strained patience. "It's a bit late
for a restaurant, especialy with Annie in tow. But we can pick up something to cook
while we're here at the store, or fast food on the way to your house. Your choice."
Instant decisions were not only his specialty, but what he expected from other
people. She should have known. She said, "since you're buying, you choose."
"How do I know what you like?" He waited.
She gave him as exasperated glare, then realized that cooking was the last thing
she felt like doing at that moment. Through tight lips, she said, "Pizza to go. Pepperoni."
"Fine," he said in easy acceptance. "Why don't you find a phone and place the
order while I head for the checkout line."
She stared at him a moment. She was being maneuvered, though it was for her own
comfort and convenience. Or was it?
Then realizing at least a part of what was going on, she said, "But if you check
out, you'll windup paying for alll this." She reached for her shoulder bag. "Here, let
me give you-"
"No."
She looked up, caught up by the implacable sound of his voice. A frown darkened
her eyes. "But that isn't fair. I'm the one who found Annie. She was left in my store."
"It's not only fair, it's the way it's going to be."
"Oh, sure. Man, the great provider."
"You got it right," he said, and had the nerve to grin.
Her lips tightened with the instinct for battle. Then she noticed the amused
attention they were attracting. She need a way out. One came to her almost immediately.
"Fine," she said abruptly. "This was your idea, after all." She turned on her
heel and headed for the bank of phones near the entrance.
"Fine," he repeated after her, and she thought she heard him let out his breath
in relief.
It was raining when they came out of the supercenter, the kind of endless steady
drizzle that could last all night, all week, or even longer in Tokyo. It was turning
colder, too, with a wet, biting chill that would probably drop below the freezing mark
before morning to cause icing on bridges and overpasses. Mamoru insisted that Usagi
go back inside and wait with Annie while he brought her car around. She set her jaw,
but didn't argue, mainly because of the baby.
They had driven over the the supercenter together, so he had to swing back by
the mall to pick up his car before heading over to the her apartment complex. She gave
him the address, then took the baby with her. He followed as far as the pizza place,
where he peeled off to pick up their dinner. Even so, he reached the apartment complex
just in time to help her unload their purchases. It was just as well, since Usagi was
exhausted from lugging Annie and her carrier up the stairs since the elevator was broken.
As he took the heaviest bags from her, she realized with grim humor that there might be
advantages to macho maneuvering.
An hour later, the three of them were still sitting at the polished dining table
amid a litter of pizza crusts, crumpled napkins, baby food jars, and multicolored splotches
of goo.
"We should have bought a high chair," Usagi said wryly as she wiped strained peas
from her eyelid.
Mamoru lifted his arm to look at the pea green and carrot orange combination that
decorated the underside of his shirt sleeve. "First thing tomorrow morning."
Usagi's smiled faded. "Maybe. If Annie is still here. And if anything is open
on Christmas Day."
He agreed. In the silence that followed, they watched Annie as she did her best
to transfer peas and carrots to her mouth with both hands at the same time.
The baby had shown herself well able to sit up on Usagi's lap, and had given her
new baby spoon a good try before discarding it in favor of the utensils nature had provided
at the ends of her arms. She had also displayed an iron will, refusing to eat unless she
fed herself.
Her age, Usagi thought, must be around nine months. She was not only old enough
to sit alone, but also to crawl after a fashion when put on the floor, and to wiggle and
swuirm and reach for what she wanted with bright-eyed determination. Old enough to be a
handful and then some.
After a moment, Mamoru looked away, scanning the apartment, most of which could
be seen from the tble beause of the great room concept of its construction. In curious
tones, he said, "You don't have much in the way of Christmas decorations."
She shook her had as she searched for a clean napkin to wipe a sliding avalance
of peas from Annie's chin.
"I guess you see more than enough of it at the shop?"
"You could put it that way."
He leaned back in the his chair, the blue of his eyes clear as he studied her.
The pose was easy, relaxed and confident. It also drew his chambray shirt taut across
the firm muscles of his chest. Usagi looked away as quickly as she could without being
obvious about it.
Voice deep and low, he said, "So how come a woman like you isn't married?"
"I'm a widow," she said shortly. To forestall any further questions, she added,
"What's your excuse?"
He shrugged. "All work and not much play. The wrong woman a couple of times."
"You're divorced, then."
"Never got as far as the marrying part." His smile was a ittle crooked as he held
her gaze for long, intent moments.
It was strange having a man in her apartment. He looked rugged and incredibly male
against her soothing cream and taupe color scheme with its silk, satin, and brocade textures.
She had chose the decor, imminently suitable for a single woman, when she moved in six months
ago. Before that, there had been a house in a nice subdivision close to a good school.
She had sold it because too many haunting memories had been collected there.
Annie chuckled and waved her spoon, a movement that embellished the dining table
with another wash of mottled green. It was a welcome distraction. As Usagi used her napkin
to wipe up some of the mess, she said, "So what do you do?"
"Construction. In partnership with my sister's husband."
Something clicked in Usagi's mind. She gave him her full attention as she said
"Chiba & Hino Construction? You built the mall. And didn't you just complete the new
wing for the hospital?"
"We had the contracts for the jobs," he agreed witha steady look.
"But-surely you don't do the actual labor?"
He lifted a brow as he followed her gaze which brushed over his rough clothes.
"Sometimes. When the mood strikes or a man fails to show up. Why not?"
"No reason," she answered hastily. "I guess I was just surprised."
My brother-in-law, Yuuchirou, and I are both architects, but we learned the
practical side of building from our dads. Most of the time, I draft or modify plans,
figure bids for projects, round up special materials, keep an eye on the jobs, that kind
of thing. But I like working with my hands now and then."
Usagi was quiet for a moment. Her thinking required some serious readjustment,
which served her right for judging the man across from her by the clothes he wore.
Chiba & Hino was one of the largest companies of its kind in Tokyo. If Chiba Mamoru
wanted to take in strays and orphans, he could certainly afford it.
"Anyway, I was just thinking it would have been nice," he said in musing tones as
he glanced around again, "if there had been a Christmas tree for Annie to wake up to in
the morning."
Usagi avoided his direct look by beginning once more to clean up after the baby.
"I don't suppose she'll miss it, being so little. We did buy the toys for her."
"Still......"
He was pushing for an answer to his earlier question, and she didn't think he would
give up until he got it. He had that kind of single-minded concentration. She compressed
her lips, uneasily aware that she owed him at least a little consideration after all his
help. Finally, she said, "I don't have a tree or a wreath because I don't care for
Christmas. Okay?"
A startled look flashed into his eyes. "But you own a Christmas shop!"
"My mother started it before my dad retired. She turned it over to me when the
two of them decided to take off in their travel trailer for a year. They enjoy life on
the road so much they still haven't come home, and-well, I had to have something to do
after....." She trailed off, unwilling, even unable, to explain further.
"After your husband died."
"Yes." As the baby in her lap gave a prodigious yawn, Usagi snatched at the
excuse to change the subject. "Annie has had it, I think. I'll give her a quick bath,
then a bottle. It must be long past her bedtime."
His face was impassive for long seconds before he accepted the evasion.
Inclining his head, he said, "I expect I'd better be going then. It must be your
bedtime, too."
"Going?" She looked up startled. "But you can't."
His dark brows drew together as he got to his feet. "You certainly don't want me
to stay?"
"You have to!" Panic threaded her voice as she watched him reach for his jacket
which hung over the back of his chair. "You promised to help"
Little Annie, staring from one to the other of them, became ominously quiet, though
they hardly noticed.
"I did and I have," Mamoru answered, his gaze on Usagi's taut features. "But you
look like you've got everything under control."
"Well, I don't, not by a long shot," she answered shortly. "You cannot leave me
here alone with this baby."
Mamoru looked form one to the other with incredulity in his eyes. "Are you inviting
me to bed down here?"
"I don't know that I'd put it like that, exactly," Usagi said. "But it's just like
a man to try to run out on a woman after it's too late."
"I have never," he said with rough emphasis, "run out on anybody or anything
in my life."
"Well, good, because I don't intend for you to start now!"
A muscle stood out in his jaw. "What I was trying to do is show a little
consideration. I didn't figure you for the kind of wamn who would let a man sleep over."
"I most certainly am not," she declared stoutly. Then ruined it by adding,
"But this is different."
"I'm a man, in case you haven't noticed." The words were grim.
"Of course I noticed!"
"Good." His stance lost a litle of its rigidity. "Look, I'll be back.
Really. Bright and early in the morning."
"No, you won't, damn it, because you aren't going anywhere! And that's final!"
He shook his head in slow bemusement. "But what will the neighbors think?"
"I don't care what they think," she said above Annie's rising cries.
"You started this, and by all that's damned, you're going to finish it."
Humor appeared, unexpectedly, to brighten the dark blue of his eyes.
"Careful with the language there, or yu just might cuss me out."
"Don't think I can't," she told him, her own eyes narrowing.
"I'd love to see it."
She thought he meant exactly what he said, which was disconcertint to say
the least. "Try sneaking out of here again and you certainly will."
There was measuring speculation and a species of strain in his face as he
met her defiant gaze. Annie's screams were piercing loud in the sudden silence
between them. Then his lashes came down, shuttering his expression.
"Fine," he said, throwing his jacket back across the chair. "I'll clear up
here while you give Annie her bath and put her to bed. Will that suit you?"
Her relief was instant, but not without reservations. "It'll be fine-for a start."
He paused as he picked up the oil-stained pizza box. "What does that mean?
Once she's asleep, you shouldn't need me anymore."
"Maybe. We'll see." Standing up with the crying baby, Usagi headed for the bathroom.
Mamoru watched her retreating back for long seconds. Then he gave a slow,
disbelieving shake of his head while a slow grin tilted his mouth.
Author's Note
I know that some of you are confused about Usagi being married and widowed.
I'll explain it in the next chapter, maybe. You might have guessed by now,
who is Mamoru's sister. That fictionous part is something I made up.
It did not happen in the anime and manga. Hino is not Chad's/Yuuchirou's last name.
I do not know his last name. I used his wife's last name in the anime and manga
for him. I wanted her to keep her actual full name.
So how do you like this?? Is it good, bad, or I could have done better??
Please send your comments, flames, and critisism to me at
serena_chiba@hotmail.com
Ja ne.
Character List
Tsukino Usagi Serena Moon
Chiba Mamoru Darien Shields
Yuuchirou Chad
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