Title: Beside You
Author: Alicia Blade
E-mail: Kammi22@sprintmail.com

Missed me, didn't ya? DIDN'T YA?! Yup, I know I'm special. Tee hee hee, 
gomen, I've had a good day. And I've written something!!! Ta-DA, aren't 
ya proud of me? It is really short, and I apologize for that, but it's 
better than nothing, ne? And it's my first NON-FIRST SEASON! Can ya 
believe it??? It takes place at the very end of Manga #18, which I was 
lucky enough to find a translation to. So, enjoy!! And I will probably 
start posting A Million Kisses within the week, so that'll give ya 
something else to look forward to!

"Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused 
the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the 
sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. So the children of 
Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters 
were a wall to them on their right hand and their left."
							Exodus 14:21-22

	
			Beside You

Sometimes I catch myself staring at her, analyzing every detail 
of her face that is already memorized to heart. I think to myself what 
it's like to hold her hand, to squeeze her waist in my arms, or tickle 
the silky smooth skin over her stomach. It sends goose bumps up her 
skin and she giggles, a laugh I've realized only arises when I touch 
her pleasingly. I can feel her hair just from remembrance, imagining 
every strand sliding through my fingers. I've done it so many times 
now, I don't need to touch it directly to really feel it. I stare at 
her and can fantasize about her sitting on my lap, the pressure 
seemingly pressing down on my legs as her cold toes try to slide up 
under my pant leg for warmth. 

	She usually catches me staring at her like that. She always seems 
to look up right in the middle of my fantasy and I'm forced to smile 
and turn away. But not before she blushes. 

	I like to surprise her too. I say things completely off the top 
of my mind, simple phrases that I don't even need to think of, they 
just come out so naturally. She loves them. I once told her that her 
belly button was so small. She giggled, turning red on her cheeks, and 
pulled her blouse down to cover the skin. I'll tell her what adorable 
ears she has, or what a slender neck or fingers. I'm often rewarded 
with a kiss or special little smile. I remember one time commenting on 
her extremely long black eyelashes. She stared at me a moment with a 
shy smile, before bending near me and placing her head on my shoulder, 
blinking quickly so that those extremely long eyelashes teased my neck 
in butterfly kisses. My lips were pressed to hers shortly after the 
taunts began.

	She won't catch me staring at her now. She's sleeping. Like a 
princess, the perfect beauty, with a calm serene that is rarely seen in 
her when she's awake. 

	We've been together for two years and she has been to my 
apartment a number of times, and I am just now realizing that I've 
never watched her sleep. She's never slept over here, of course. I 
always made it a point to have her home by nine, ten at the very 
latest. As much as she argued with me on it, I wanted her parents to 
have the best impression of me as possible. They would see how well I 
treated their little girl, how much I respected her. 

	But last night, I wasn't going to let her go for the world. 

	The second I saw her sitting at the edge of the cliff I made my 
decision that we would not be separated that night. It had been far too 
long, with so many hardships, battles, fights… I'd hurt her so much. 
Everything, everyone had hurt her, even the ones that love her most, as 
much as I do, I don't doubt. But we were finally freed of Galaxia's 
spell, the scouts and I. I remembered my love the second that the 
confining bracelet broke. It was terrifying though. Not remembering my 
love for her, that was the single most wonderful thing I've ever had in 
my life. But the memories of everything I've put her through.

	I remember one minute it was like I was waking from a long 
slumber, a torturous nightmare where I had been forced to sit back and 
watch this evil man betray the woman of my dreams, my one true love. I 
watched him stare at her with cold emotionless eyes, I watched him 
strike at her with fists and words. Break her heart and defense, and 
the last ounce of hope she had left. I watched him hover over her as 
she cried and bled. I watched him kiss another woman, one who hated my 
love down to her very core. 

	And I watched it all through his eyes.

	I woke up in darkness, complete black. I was floating somewhere, 
space pulling at my lungs. I don't remember much of that except 
darkness. Maybe my eyes were closed. But I dealt with the pain of my 
actions there, with no one to comfort me, and not being able to comfort 
my princess. I didn't know what was going on, who had won the battle, 
of if both the princess and Galaxia were dead. I dared not think of 
that, but it hurt me to concentrate on her shocked looks when I had 
said and done all of those horrid things. 

	Then I was bathed in light and warmth, all things good and 
wonderful and bright. Suddenly, my feet were on solid ground again. 
Looking down, I saw I was dressed all in white, a crisp button down 
shirt and slacks, no shoes and I could feel grass beneath my feet. My 
tuxedo and mask were gone and I could feel a surge of freedom emerge 
from the disappearance of their binding. From the corner of my eyes I 
could see others, girls just waking up. The scouts were dressed in 
white too, their sailor suits gone from the last time I had seen them.

	Then I looked up to be met with the most beautiful sight I can 
remember seeing. There she was, asleep as the mysterious sunrays soaked 
into her skin. Two strands of perfect gold-spun hair flowed down her 
sides. She was dressed like the other girls, with a short satin white 
gown, almost like lingerie. I was speechless, dormant as I watched her 
stir. Slowly, she awoke. She then surprised me with her energy, bolting 
upright quickly. She was turned away from the rest of us, facing out 
over the cliff we sat on. 

	I couldn't wait any longer and found myself walking toward her, 
placing the tips of my fingertips on her bare upper back. She froze for 
a minute, before turning to me. Our fingers laced together and for the 
first time she saw all the other girls. Tears sprung to her eyes and I 
kissed her knuckles, wanting to take her into my arms and hold her for 
all eternity, but the scouts beat me to her and I watched happily as 
she hugged them all and shared happy and loving greetings.

	Maybe that's when I made my decision that tonight would change 
everything in our lives.

	Everything has changed us. I've changed, she's changed, our 
relationship has changed. I think all for the better. She stirs in her 
sleep and I trail a finger down her shoulder, before tugging the 
blanket up around her neck. The small smile on her lips widens with a 
sigh and she rolls over onto her side, facing me. I am content in 
staring at her sleeping features. 

	When we reached the city, she told me that she should go home and 
make sure her parents weren't worried, but we both know she didn't want 
to. I only smiled and turned her down the street towards my apartment, 
holding her closely tucked beneath my arm. No one was taking her from 
me that night. I refused to share her. 

	I hovered so close to her all the way home, both arms around her, 
one at her shoulders and the other tied about her waist. My lips never 
left her face or hair, always kissing or whispering into her ear. She 
listened contentedly to everything I said, a sweet smile upon the 
perfect lips. 

	When finally we were home, my apartment, I led her by hands into 
the living room, letting the door close before wrapping her completely 
into my arms, pressed against my body and tasting her lips for the 
first time since the nightmare ended. We stood there together, one in 
heart and soul, for hours on end. I felt like my life had been filled 
up completely, a painfully deep and freezing hole filled to the top 
with her very essence. Her life, her smile, her ongoing warmth and love 
and devotion… I don't know if a million thoughts were running through 
my head, or none at all. Why she chose me? I haven't the slightest 
clue. But she was in my arms and we were together. I felt that at any 
moment I would overflow and literally explode in happiness. One more 
kiss and I would surely be pushed over the edge. But I didn't let her 
go until she managed to mutter her need for a long warm bath. 
Reluctantly, I let her go.

	I stood outside the bathroom for the full thirty minutes as she 
took her shower, listening to the water hit her body and the floor. My 
thoughts wandered over everything about her, and strangely managed to 
stay in very clean and appropriate fantasies. I think I knew what I had 
to do then, what I wanted to do. My true desire and the only thing that 
could complete my life, make it any more perfect than it was. I don't 
know if I was content or nervous, but I knew I had to. That was it. 
Pure, raw duty to my own heart and emotions.

	I almost can't stand watching her sleep any longer. She's so 
quiet and relaxed, it just doesn't seem right. All I seem to be able to 
think about is her smile and bright glowing eyes right now. I know I'll 
be able to become accustomed to her deep sleeping, I plan on waking up 
beside her many times in the future. But I can't think of the future 
just yet. I think I'll live in the present moment, and maybe a bit of 
the past. 

	Last night was the first time we'd made love. The first time we'd 
become one physically, no longer connected simply by heart and mind. 
Everything was more incredible than I am sure either of us could have 
imagined. Every touch and kiss, every sensation more powerful than the 
last. It was as if we'd fallen into heaven together. 

	And now to wake up beside her with proof it wasn't a dream, it's 
like more than I could ever ask for. Not a trace of regret is in my 
thoughts, only unconditional love. I'm glad I waited to give my body to 
this perfect angel, and thrilled with the knowledge she bestowed her 
own innocence to me. 

	My heart is thumping wildly against my chest and I know I have to 
wake her or drive myself insane with the agony of not kissing those 
lips for a second longer. 

	And so, I lean forward, brushing my lips against hers, tenderly 
at first, but slowly deepening the kiss as I feel her wake up beneath 
me. A minute longer and her arms are around my neck, our tongues 
dancing together. Finally, I pull away, hovering over her and smiling 
down on still sleepy eyes. She sighs, collapsing into the single pillow 
we shared. 	

	"Morning," I whisper. Her eyes glaze over in angelic delight.

	"Morning, Mamo-chan," she whispers drowsily, rubbing her fingers 
over her eyelids. I watch her from my close position, not bothering to 
move even the slightest distance away. I wait patiently for another 
kiss as she yawns and stretches beneath my body, before finally meeting 
my intense stare. She blushes slightly. I'd always known she blushed 
easily, but it hadn't become so distinctively clear until last night. 
Still, I suppose she wasn't as shy as I had once presumed her to be. 
Finally she whispers in a small, dainty voice, "It feels like I've been 
having a long, long dream."

"Oh? What kind of dream?" I reply, placing my elbow down on the 
mattress and smiling at her with love. 
 	
"I don't remember."

	I laugh lightly, bending over to kiss the tip of her nose. Her 
eyes open wide and we look at each other for a moment, before I press 
my burning lips down on hers once again. Pulling away, I sit up on the 
bed, pulling on my boxers that had landed carelessly on the floor 
sometime last night.

"Hey, Mamo-chan...?"

"Hm?" I turn to her and see that she has sat up on the bed, the 
sheets wrapped around her body. I smile, turning to face her 
completely. "Yes, love?"

Her lips spread into a wide grin and she scoots towards me, 
placing two fingers onto my face, just in front of my ear. "Say those 
words one more time," she whispers pleadingly. I laugh, shaking my head 
in disbelief.

"I already said them fifty times last night, Usako."

"I know," she giggles, touching her forehead to mine. But just 
once more!" 

"Okay. One last time, but this is it." She nods ecstatically and 
I know it won't be the last time. Climbing onto my hands and knees, I 
crawl toward her, knocking her down on top of the bed, giggling beneath 
me. Our bodies press up against each other and I crane my neck to kiss 
her passionately. It's some time before we break apart and I listen 
elatedly to her delighted giggle as I answer her one request.

"Marry me, Usa."


Tell me whatcha thought!
Luv and God bless ya!
<3 Ali-chan