* * * *

For twenty minutes, Mamoru stood in the bookcase dressed in all black as a stereotypical ninja. Like a tiger in the bushes, he waited. His legs were already starting to tense up from the long period of standing up. Soon his target would be here, ready for him to pounce.

Why?

He was waiting to pull off the best scare ever, the usual older brother taunts little sister routine. He cackled gleefully as he positioned himself to see the door better. She'd never be expecting this. Mamoru considered it pay back for all the times she scared the hell out of him.

Checking his watch, he noticed that she would be home in four minutes. Throwing his head back, he laughed out loud,. There was only four minutes till the midget drops dead of fright. He couldn't wait to see her violet eyes turn into round saucers as she fainted dead away. This picture made him chuckle even more as he hunkered down and prepared for the ultimate showdown.

Three minutes to Showdown....

He started to sweat a bit, he couldn't back out now. Not after twenty minutes of leg cramps and sweaty armpits.

Two minutes to Showdown....

He pulled the hood of his ninja suit over his face so that she wouldn't be able to see him.

One minute to Showdown....

He reached over and flicked the light switch, putting the room in shadows.

Showdown....

* * * *

Moshi ran up the steps of the apartment entrance, her blue skirt swishing around her legs. Pausing at the mailbox, she checked for Mamoru's mail, oddly there wasn't any. "He can't be home," she thought. She walked over to the elevator and pushed the call button. The green light for up flashed as the doors opened.

She stepped in the elevator and pushed the tenth floor button. It took a few minutes for the elevator to reach the floor because of the small kids going from third to seventh. She got out on the tenth floor and walked down the hall to apartment 1028. The small nameplate on the door said, "Chiba Mamoru." And right underneath his, scribbled on a piece of paper was, "And Moshi."

Grinning, she put the key in the lock, opened the door, and was greeted to total darkness. The shadows surprised her. Mamoru usually left the front lamps on for Moshi when she came home. She put her bookbag down by the door and kicked her school shoes off.

"Ru-chan...Tadaima!," she called as she slipped on her purple slippers. Walking towards the window, she continued to call for Mamoru. The dark shadow in the bookcase edged closer, to get better leverage. She passed the bookcase calling his name when she was pounced. She yelped in surprise as a body made of pure muscle connected with her back.

In an instant, her elbows plowed into the stomach of her assailant in a reflex motion. Her head spun in circles as a hand grabbed her ponytail and tugged almost playful like. On the floor kicking and screaming, she scooted away, taking her ponytail with her. Her skirt bellowed out about her like a blue cloud as she continued to kick out in fright. She suddenly gripped her henshin star and held it into the air ready to call forth her powers of Life.

"Earth Star Pow--" she started to call when suddenly a hand grasped her wrist and the lights flicked on. Looking up to see who was attacking her she mentally gasped, standing over her was a ninja! The ninja reached up and slowly removed his mask, she gritted her teeth, ready to fight. It was Mamoru!

Moshi's face turned red in anger as she leaped up to stand before him. Her ponytail nearly whacked him in the face, her eyes flashed. "How dare you scare me like that!" The words after that were too colorful for Mamoru, he started to blush himself. Strings of obscenities filled the air, some made up, and some tried and true, he swallowed noisily and stared at his sister. Did she ever have a potty mouth!

"Midget, anyone tell you that you have a potty mouth?" he asked, raising one dark eyebrow.

Stopping mid curse, she said, "Potty Mouth? I think this should be excused, seeing you just aged me 20 years!" Before she could continue to release another colorful phrase, Mamoru clamped his hand over her mouth.

Now finally calmed down after her cursing outburst, she started to blush. The red color stained her entire face and neck. She twisted her bow in her hands as she sheepishly said "I guess, it's something held over from Mosite." She started flashing her dimples. A gesture she usually did when in trouble.

"Don't try the dimple trick on me!" he said. "You really need to curb that language. Makoto's mouth isn't that dirty!" Moshi jumped again, ready to assault him with a few inventive insults of her own when a knocking at the door interrupted their bickering.

"Hai!?" Mamoru called, going to the door.

A muffled male voice replied. "Tenchino Hoshi!, you said you wanted to study ne?" Mamoru looked down at his attire and grinned.

"Say, Midget, let him in while I change ne?"

She looked up from the couch, flipping her ponytail over her shoulder. "Fine, fine, you sadist," she grumbled as she stood from the couch and went for the door. Her mood quickly changed the moment she opened the door, outside in the hallway was standing the most adorable man she ever seen.

He was about Mamoru's height, if not taller. His reddish brown hair was cut short, but not too short. There was enough hair left to delicately curl above his collar. What really grabbed her was those intense, brilliant green eyes. Eyes that looked cut from the rarest emeralds, funny she seen those exact same green eyes before. She wondered where...

It was him! The guy from the dance and from the airport. He was HERE at HER apartment, in the hallway, and he finally had a name; Tenchino Hoshi. It sounded beautiful, Star of Heaven and Earth. At that moment, she felt like he was a bright star in a dark sky. "Oh my," she breathed.

Hoshi looked down at the small person who opened the door, her violet eyes shimmered as she stared up at him. Instantly, he remembered where he saw her. She was the one in that dress from the dance. A faint red stain tinted his cheeks as he cleared his throat.

Moshi stopped gawking enough to take the hint. "Konnichi wa!" she called out hoping the blush wasn't too bad.

"Konnichi wa! Genki desu ka?" he asked, his long eyelashes sweeping his cheeks as he blinked.

Her heart stopped, struggling to answer she croaked. "genki desu. Please, come in don't stand there!" She moved out the way to let him in.

She led him over to the couch after tripping over her shoes, feet, and bookbag. "Oh Kami-sama, I'm as clumsy as Usagi-chan!" she thought.

"She's cute and clumsy," he thought as he smiled at Moshi. "So, you finally know my name. Is this the part where I learn what's yours, small one?" he asked.

She slightly bowed. "Watashi no namae wa Tak.." She stopped and faked a coughing fit. "Chiba Moshi desu."

"Let me see. Hello World. Nice name, cute, I like that," he replied. "Just like you."

Moshi turned brighter red. She felt dumbfounded, she never heard anyone call her cute as so many times as he did. "Arigato...ano.."

"Tenchino Hoshi," he supplied. "Surely you haven't forgotten me already?"

Moshi wanted to slap herself. Just being in the same room with him caused her mind to go haywire.

Hoshi was going through the same thing, just that he had more experience in dealing with crushes.

She looked up again to say something, but caught herself drowning in the emerald depths of his eyes. A thought struck her like a lightning bolt, she sat ramrod straight as her eyes glazed over.

"Those eyes, I know those eyes! They're Miko's eyes!"

She was starting to see many similarities between Hoshi, Shi, and Miko. When he laughed, a dimple appeared in his right cheek, just like Shi and his eyes glittered the exact same way Miko's did when she giggled. His hands, oh Kami-sama, those were Shi's hands! And his lips, those where Miko's lips! He might be her future husband! The green eyed prince that had eyes only for her!

He notice her sudden hesitation. "Did I say something wrong?" he asked, his green eyes focusing in on her face.

She cleared her throat. "Iie, I've been feeling...um a bit under the weather."

"There is a cold going around--" he started, trailing off. He couldn't help but to stare at her, something in her violet eyes kept calling him. He suddenly felt the need to put his fingers in her dark hair. He wondered what it would look like all down. He shook his head, such thoughts are outlandish. This was his friend's sister. Mamoru would kill him!

"So, how long have you known Ru-chan?" she asked, trying to change subjects.

"Ru-chan"? he said with a chuckle. He hummed under his breath, as if mentally counting. "I met him last year, we had the same Calculus class together. This year we have physics together."

She stuck out her tongue and made a face. "Physics sucks."

One reddish brown eyebrow raised. "I suppose what you do is better."

She nodded, her ponytail bouncing. "Hai, I'm into Biology and Gardening." She stood up and went over to the window, where a potted rose stood on the windowsill. "I grew this myself for Ru-chan, you normally can't grow these kind of Roses in the house, but I did."

"How did you get it to grow in here?" he asked, truly interested.

She looked back at him, her eyes glittering. "Love, I give all my plants love." She turned back to the rose, touching its velvet soft petals.

He smiled, he could easily like this girl. There was something different about her. Unlike all the other girls he known, this girl had a future. The rest usually wanted to just become housewives. He didn't want that, he wanted someone to be equal with him, and she could be it.

Mamoru entered the room armed with his books. "You two didn't kill each other did you?"

Moshi laughed. "No, we didn't!" She walked back over to the door and tripped over her feat on the way. She clumsily grabbed for her bookbag. "If you excuse me, I have biology to do and I have to go see my friends."

Hoshi stood up. "It was nice to finally meet you, Moshi-chan." He smiled, his white teeth flashing in the light.

She turned back around. "Hai, same for me Hoshi-kun." She walked down the hallway to her room, closing her door behind her.

Back in the living room, Mamoru didn't like the dreamy look on Hoshi's face. "Oh no! Not my sister, she is too young for you!" he whispered harshly.

Hoshi sniffed delicately and folded his arms. "What makes you think I have the hots for your kid sister?" he asked, defiantly

Mamoru held out a napkin. "Because you have a nosebleed."

Hoshi turned red and took the napkin, dabbling at the small spots of blood that emerged from his right nostril. "Okay, so maybe I think she's cute," he said "That's no reason for you to get all wacky on me, Ru-chan!"

Mamoru grabbed Hoshi by the lapels of his jacket. "Don't call me that--"

A knock at the door diverted their attention. "Hai!?" Mamoru called, releasing Hoshi going to the door.

The voice he heard wouldn't help this situation. "It's me, Usagi! And Chibiusa!"

Hoshi smirked. "Ah is that the young girlfriend of yours."

Mamoru sighed and opened the door, two figures, one blonde and one pink haired rushed in attaching themselves to him. "Mamo-chan!" they both said as they sighed in relief.

Hoshi laughed. "Is it Ru-chan or Mamo-chan? Just so I won't be confused in the future."

Mamoru glared at Hoshi over Usagi's head, shooting daggers with his gaze. "Don't you start."

Hoshi walked over and nudged Mamoru with his elbow. "Way to go Mamoru-kun, you got not one but two!"

"Two what?" Usagi asked as she unattached herself from Mamoru.

Mamoru blushed. "Nothing, nothing! Ignore him, he's silly."

Hoshi bowed before Usagi and Chibiusa. "Tenchino Hoshi at your service!"

Usagi's blue eyes lit up. "Hey your name is just like Mo-chan!"

Chibiusa suddenly was quiet, she knew who he was. His green eyes said it all, Shi and Miko's dad! "Hello, Hoshi-san," she said, biting her bottom lip.

Usagi kicked off her shoes and walked into the room. "Is Mo-chan still here?" She pulled her book bag from behind her back, she was here to get help on biology.

Mamoru nodded to Usagi. "Hai, she's in her room." Chibiusa and Usagi waved and trotted down the hall to Moshi's room. Usagi rapped on the door and went in. Moshi was sitting at her desk scribbling on her paper.

She looked up. "Oh, Usagi-chan, I forgot you were coming here!" Moshi said as she jumped up, clearing a spot for Usagi at her desk. Chibiusa looked around the room in boredom, here she was stuck here while they studied. Moshi looked around the room to see if there was anything for Chibiusa to do. She plucked something off the dresser and handed it to Chibiusa. "Here ya go kid, a gameboy. Knock yourself out!"

Chibiusa's red eyes lit up. "Do you have any more games?!" To answer her question a large duffel bag hit her in the leg. She opened it and inside was a lot of games!

"Usagi-chan you get started, I'll go get us some snacks." Moshi slipped her feet in her slippers and walked out in search of the kitchen. Two male voices reached her ears. Oh-no, Hoshi and Ru-chan were in the kitchen as well. She couldn't take those green eyes any longer. Sighing and holding her head up she marched into the kitchen.

Hoshi and Mamoru were preparing some sandwiches to aid in their studying. "Is this a private thing, or can I have some too?" She asked Mamoru as she went to the fridge.

Mamoru chuckled and passed her the bread. Moshi hurriedly whipped together a few sandwiches. a few for herself and two for Usagi and one for Chibiusa. She went to get a few juices when she caught a pair of eyes on her, a pair of green eyes.

Hoshi stood by the sink, he couldn't help but to stare at her. "Kami-sama, she's too cute," he thought as he absently put mayo on his hand and not the bread.

Mamoru cleared his throat. "Hoshi-kun?" Hoshi continued to stare at Moshi while applying a coating of mayo to his palm. Mamoru frowned and stomped Hoshi's foot with his own. "Hoshi-kun!"

"Itai!" Hoshi cried as the knife hit the floor with a clatter. He blinked and looked down at his hand. "Oops," he muttered, going to the sink and washing his hands.

"He's so cute!" Moshi thought as she walked out the kitchen.

The moment she entered the room she was attacked by a blond hurricane. It sucked up two sandwiches and a juice and left. The aftermath of what remained was a mess. There was insurmountable damage done to the tray and its contents.

"Dangit, Usagi-chan!" Moshi said as she gave Chibiusa her sandwich and juice. She frowned as she pulled a bit of bread out her hair.

"Enough about me." Usagi said, wiping a goop of mayo off the corner of her mouth. "Who is that cute guy Mamo-chan's studying with?"

Moshi blushed, she grabbed a pair of headphones off her nightstand and plugged them into the Gameboy and placed them on Chibiusa's ears.

"Tenchino Hoshi....isn't that a beautiful name!" she cooed. Her hands clasped over her heat as she sighed in content.

Usagi blinked. "Oh boy you got it bad."

She continued. "He's just, oh my...I can't help but to see those green eyes. This could be the one!" she squealed.

Usagi grinned. "Hey his name isn't any different! Hoshi, Moshi. You two were made for each other!"

What was said next stopped Moshi's blood cold. "You were, in fact that's Mi-chan's dad..." Two pairs of eyes, violet and blue bulged and stared at the pink haired girl playing the gameboy.

"Oops, maybe I wasn't suppose to say that!" Chibiusa said, returning to her game after seeing the stares she got. Moshi leaped from her chair and grabbed her by her shoulders.

"NANI! Hoshi is their otoo-san!?!?!?!" Moshi yelled as she shook Chibiusa like a madwoman. Her pink hair whipped about her head, striking Moshi in the face.

Chibiusa started to whine. "Hai, let me go it HURTS!" She wailed. A knock on the door stopped Moshi.

Mamoru walked in. "What in the name of Kami-sama is going on in here!"

Chibiusa sniffed, "I only said that Hoshi was Shi-san and Mi-chan's otoo-san.."

Mamoru gagged audibly. "Nani!" His face paled considerably as he looked for a place to sit.

"Mamo-chan!" Usagi said as she rushed to his side. "Daijoubu!?"

Over on the floor Moshi sat wringing her ponytail in her hands. She gawked when Hoshi stepped into the room. "Moshi-chan, you didn't kill the pink kid did you?!"

"Ano... " Moshi mumbled, twisting her ponytail up.

Hoshi raised his eyebrows. "What did you do to her?" He looked to Usagi for an answer who only shrugged, all the time trying to keep from smirking. "I'll tell you one thing, you Tsukinos and Chibas are sugoi. I think I'll go home," he said as he slowly backed out the doorway.

Moshi's eyes grew big, he was getting away! "Hoshi-kun wait!" She ran after him to the door. He was putting on his shoes when he noticed her standing there.

She twisted her ponytail some more before he took it out her hands.

"You're going to be bald before you're twenty you keep doing that."

She laughed a bit. "I was wondering, would you like to..um ....." she trailed off, the blush staining her face like a paint splash.

"Oh my, are you asking me on a date?" he joked, his green eyes sparkling as he looked down at her.

Moshi's throat tightened up, she never had this much trouble asking a guy out before. "Yes, what we'll do I don't know."

"Oh I can think of something," he said and he nudged her in the side.

Her mouth dropped open. "No I don't mean that Mamoru-sempai will kill me!" he said hastily after noticing her expression.

Moshi snapped her fingers. "How about we go to the Celestial Gardens!" The gardens where her favorite place to go, she loved walking around smelling the various flowers.

"We'll have a picnic, I'll throw something together," he answered.

"I'll see you tomorrow at 4, I'll come by here and get you ne?"

"Hai, it's set." Moshi waved, nearly slapping herself. "Ja ne, Hoshi-chan," she whispered as she walked back to her room.

He was glad she didn't see him blushing. "Ja ne, Mo-chan," he whispered as he closed the door behind himself.

Usagi was waiting at the door with baited breath. "Well!?" she nearly screamed when Moshi entered the room.

"We have a date tomorrow!" Moshi said, she nearly floated away. Her eyes glazed over as she sighed loudly.

Mamoru paled even more. "A what?!" He smacked himself in the forehead, of all the guys it had to be Hoshi. Hoshi who bragged about how many girls he'd dated.

"It's OK Ru-chan, I'll be fine. We're going to a public place, the gardens...my favorite place," she answered, sitting back at her desk to finish her homework.

* * * *

The End

Next Chapter: Chapter 20: A Date With A Star

-chan -- suffix to a name meaning they are familiar with that person.

-san -- suffix to a name meaning respect, formal as in Mr, Ms.

-kun -- same as -chan, used for boys.

-sama -- suffix to a name meaning highest level of respect, used for lords, ladies, princes, princesses (i.e. Usagi is Usagi-sama since she's the Moon Princess)

Ano -- verbal pause like Uh.

Arigato -- Thanks

Daijoubu -- Are you ok?

Dare -- Who

Dozo yorishiku -- Pleased to meet you, (please be gentle with me)

Fuku -- Uniform/sailor suit

Genki desu ka? -- How are you? (drop ka it's I'm fine)

Gomen nasai -- I'm very sorry

Hai -- Yes

Henshin -- transformation

Iie -- No

Ja ne -- see you later

Kami-sama -- God

Konnichi wa! -- Good afternoon, said after noon-5pm

Nani -- what

Otoo -- father (or otou)

Shimatta -- Damn

Sugoi -- Weird

Tadaima -- I have returned/ I am home

Watashi no namae wa -- My name is or The name I have is