I had shown up unannounced at Makoto's door at six in the evening with my overnight bag and books. When she answered the door and saw me she'd immediately grabbed my stuff and told me to follow her inside. After putting my things in an out-of-the-way spot, she sat me in a chair while she seated herself on the floor so she could look me in the eyes and ask me what was wrong.
Glancing at her and blushing, I told her it was nothing serious; it was just that my mother was pulling a double at the hospital and the neighbor's son was throwing a loud party. A hurt look crossed Makoto face as she stood up and looked down at me.
"That's all I am to you, isn't it? Just an overnight library." She said in a small voice.
As I sit here trying to find a way to refute that statement, Makoto passes me and runs her fingers through my hair while chuckling. She then stops, turns around to place a forefinger under my chin and closed my mouth while smiling. I close my eyes as she leans forward, placing a small kiss on my forehead and giving me a hug. "Sweetheart, do you know how easy it is to get you all flustered?" She asked as she pulled away.
Makoto then walked towards the kitchen, and I thought I heard something about dinner and an hour, but my mind was fixated on the extra twitch she was putting in her walk as she moved away.
After dinner I'd set up to study at the coffee table while Makoto pulled out her sewing box and sat down on the couch. I really had every intention of studying, but I soon became engrossed in watching Makoto sewing a line of prefect tiny stitches in the lavender fabric. Letting my curiosity have free rein, I asked her what she was making.
Giving me a smile, she turned out the fabric and showed me the half-finished stuffed rabbit she was working on. Makoto said she had run into Hotaru this morning and had found out that the younger senshi was looking for a cheer-up present for ChibiUsa. After hearing Hotaru saying that ChibiUsa already owns most of the stuffed bunnies in the neighborhood, she had offered to make one for her.
Watching Makoto's hands as she stroked the rabbit's head, I asked her how many stuffed animals she had made. Looking at her hands Makoto told me that the bunny was the third one she had made. The first one was at school being used as an example by the teacher. Then, looking at me she said, "the second one is a present for you and is in my bedroom."
Pulling Makoto with me to her bedroom I opened the door and saw the deep emerald green bear sitting on her dresser. When I picked up the bear I got a closer look at it and saw an embroidered white snowflake pattern with an oak leaf in the center of it's chest. I felt Makoto come up behind me and, pulling me into a hug with one arm, she traced the pattern with her other hand and whispered in my ear.
"When I made this for you all I could think of is what the gift of your love means to me. You accepted me knowing the good and the bad sides of my moods. You always know what to say to lift my spirits and make me laugh. This bear was made by my love, for you, my greatest love."
Hearing this, I turned in Makoto's arms and reached up, pulling her down for a kiss. I put all my love into the kiss, trying to show her that what she had just said is what I feel for her.