Split Second 
Usagi-chan
Usagi@lunap.com
http://hop.to/minako_usagi
Standard disclaimers apply.


	Usagi reached her gloved hands up to smooth the veil
Minako had set among her crown of curls.  She gently brushed
a few curls out of her eyes and tried to smile at her own
reflection.

	"Usa?  Are you okay?" Minako asked, concern for her
friend shining in her eyes.

	"Yeah, Minako.  I'm fine." Usagi sighed.  "This is
supposed to be the happiest day of my life, and yet I can't
help wishing..."  She let her voice trail off.	

	"Wishing what, Usa?" Minako asked.

	"Nothing." Usagi smiled.  "I think I hear the Wedding
March."

	"Okay, let's go." Minako led the way to the entrance
into the church and gestured for Usagi to go in.

	She was the picture perfect bride as she slowly walked
down the aisle.  Her white dress was form fitting and accented 
her curvy figure.  The full skirt swished with the movements of
her legs and her face was hidden under a delicate veil.

	Usagi looked straight ahead, not wanting to see anyone.
She couldn't believe she was doing this.

	Her groom smiled happily at her as she approached him.
He looked amazing in his black tuxedo, and even she couldn't
deny it.  His eyes shone with happiness and Usagi tried to 
smile at him, but found that she couldn't.  She was grateful
that the veil prevented him from seeing her face, and her 
tear filled eyes.

	Usagi didn't even look in the direction of his best man.
She couldn't face him.  Instead, she glanced at Minako as she 
took her place next to Usagi, the position of the maid of honor.

	"We gather here today..." The minister began to speak
and Usagi couldn't follow his words.  He seemed to be rambling on
about eternal happiness and love, but she wasn't sure.

	'Say something...  Oh please say something!' Usagi 
thought furiously.  'I don't want to go through with this,
so say something, please!  Say that you love me!'

	Involuntarily she glanced over her soon-to-be husband's
shoulder into the eyes of his best man.  His eyes were filled
with tears, and suddenly she knew.  He did love her, there was
no doubt in her mind.

	Her delicate pink lips formed one word, and she knew
it registered with him.

	'Mamo-chan.'

	The feeling of having her hand grasped, and a ring	
sliding onto her finger shocked her back to what was happening.  
The minister was holding a ring out to Usagi, and instructing 
her to repeat after him.

	"Do you, Tsukino Usagi, take this man to be your lawfully
wedded husband?  To have and to hold, in sickness and in health?"
Usagi stared desperately at Mamoru even as the minister spoke to
her.

	'Please, oh please...' She thought, knowing that in seconds
she would be married, unless he spoke up.

	"Say I do, Usa." The gentle words came from the lips of 
her groom.

	"I... I..." She couldn't bring herself to say it.  Her
blue eyes pleaded with his, and Mamoru couldn't take it anymore.

	"I object!  I object to it all!" A stunned silence fell
over the church.

	"Excuse me, young man?" The minister asked.

	"I object to this." Mamoru spoke calmly.

	"But your the best man!  You can't object!" The minister
was shocked.

	"Mamoru!  How can you do this to me?" Motoki was horrified
by his best friend's actions.  Mamoru glanced unfazed at Motoki 
before stepping towards Usagi.

	"Usako..." He whispered gently, taking her into his arms.
"I love you.  I was too stupid to see it before, but I love you.  
The only thing I could think as I saw you coming down the aisle is
that you should be coming to me, to marry me.  I couldn't just stand
there, and watch you marry him.  I..." His voice trailed off as Usagi
raised one satin covered finger to his lips.

	"Shh..." She whispered.  She let her hand gently caress the
side of his face.  "Mamo-chan...  I was afraid.  I was so afraid you
weren't going to say anything.  I thought maybe you didn't really
love me, and you were going to let me marry him, and..."

	"Usako, did you really doubt my love for you?" Mamoru
asked.

	"No."

	Without another word, Mamoru lifted the veil and captured 
her pink lips with his own.  

	Motoki was outraged.  His best friend was kissing his
bride on his wedding day!  This was crazy.

	"What the hell do you think your doing?" Motoki asked,
pulling Mamoru away from Usagi.  "She's my bride!"

	"But she doesn't love you!"

	"If she didn't love me, why is she here?" Motoki snarled 
before taking a swing at Mamoru.  The punch connected with Mamoru's
jaw, sending him reeling.  Motoki lunged at Mamoru and took another
swing.  Mamoru ducked it this time, catching Motoki in the stomach
with a punch of his own.  
	The guests watched in horror as the groom and best man duked
it out for the hand of the bride.  Mamoru seemed to be winning, until
one of Motoki's punches kissed his cheek, and another hit his stomach.  
Mamoru keeled over.

	"Motoki!  Please!" Usagi cried before falling to her knees
next to Mamoru.  She gently cradled him against her, his blood 
staining her dress.
	
	"Usa... Usako..." He whispered.  "Your dress...  Your lovely
dress..."
	
	"Don't worry about, darling." She whispered back.  "It 
doesn't matter.  Are you alright?"

	She gently pressed her gloved fingers against his face, 
checking to see if he was okay.  

	"It's just a few cuts and bruises, Mamo-chan.  You are
going to be alright."

	"Of course I'm going to be alright." He smiled painfully
at her.  "I have you."

	Usagi smiled before leaning forward to gently brush
her lips against his.  

	"I love you, Mamo-chan."

	Motoki watched in silence as the pair treated each 
other with a gentle, passionate love that was nothing like
he and Usagi shared.  He watched the way she had tenderly
checked to see if he was alright, and even he noticed the
way she seemed to glow when Mamoru smiled at her.  He knew
it was nothing he could compete with.  He knew that he had
lost.

	Motoki smiled wistfully at the pair before turning
away and walking down the aisle, away from them.  He saw 
that no one was left in the church.  Someone must have 
cleared it out sometime during their fight.

	"Motoki!  Wait!" 

	Motoki turned around to see Minako running after
him, her pale orange dress inhibiting her steps.  He waited
at the door for Minako to catch up to him.

	"Let's go get a drink."

	Motoki nodded and the pair slipped out of the
church, leaving Mamoru and Usagi alone.  Neither of them
noticed, as they were caught up in their own world.  

	"What took us so long, Mamo-chan?" Usagi asked
softly as she brushed some of his dark hair out of his
eyes.

	"I don't know Usa, but the good things in life
are worth waiting for."

	"You mean you would have waited for me, even if
I had married Motoki?" She asked in surprise.

	"I would have waited forever."

	Usagi smiled and kissed Mamoru lightly once more.

	"We should go get you cleaned up, and I want to
change out of this dress." Usagi helped Mamoru to his feet.
She picked up her skirt and two marched down the aisle, away
from the alter.

	This time, Usagi's veil wasn't hiding her face, which
was glowing.  She seemed to be bursting with happiness and her
eyes held tears of joy.

	She was with the man she loved, and there was nothing
more she needed in life.


AN: I got this crazy idea while I was dusting the wedding 
section at work.  I was moving all these wine glasses that
said things like "bride", "groom", "best man" and "mother of
the bride".  Crazy things like that.  Just thought I'd share...