Okay, short AN's. It's a short fic, taking place during the R break up. I think I'm finally getting out of the DiC name brainwashing! Look! The names are Japanese! *gasp* Oh yeah...um...this is kinda the "Gomen nasai, FA2 will be out as soon as possible so read this instead and I'll hurry and write for you, okey?" Oh yes, Nicole Cherre gave me this idea, but I consider it mostly mine since she called with the basic plot (which I slightly changed for this story) and I gave her every detail. So if you see a story similar to this come out...um...whenever the hell she writes again, then neither of us stole the story, but fed off each other's knowledge is more like it. RATING: PG - Maybe PG-13. DISCLAIMER: I own squat. And the Top 25 Usa/Mamo WAFF (Warm and fuzzy feeling) stories voting has started again. Don't forget to vote! http://www.lunap.com/umwaff2000.html E-mail: stefaniecraig@hotmail.com Website: http://home.att.net/~stef_chan/index.html ICQ: 634674320 If you add me to your ICQ list, please tell me why, and who you are! ^_^ Quote of the Week: "Loyalty isn't standing by someone when he's right, that's good judgment. Loyalty is standing by someone when he's wrong." - Susan Estrich - LOYALTY PART ONE OF ONE It had been so slow at first. The girls had hardly noticed it, actually. But little by little, Usagi was drawing away from them. Almost putting forth an effort to stay away. After two months of her constantly separating herself from them, the Senshi finally had the nerve to ask her what was wrong. They got the answer they expected, hoped, and prayed for. "It's nothing, minna. I've just been so stressed out lately. With the Black Moon, Chibi-Usa and..." Usagi's voice had faded into nothingness as she was about to utter the last thing that had been on her mind. Mako had narrowed her eyes at the girl. "It isn't Mamoru-san, is it, Usagi-chan?" she asked with the thought of a slow and painful death for Mamoru on her mind. Usagi turned slightly pale, but that went by unnoticed, and she shook her head. "Actually no. I'm just worried about Chibi-Usa. She's so sad." "Usagi," Rei whispered. Usagi looked to her best friend and raised her eyebrows. "If it is him, you need to get over him. Nothing will come out of moping to yourself." Ami had nodded her agreement with Rei and given her friend a reassuring pat on the back. Minako hadn't said anything. Somehow, deep inside, she knew that Mamoru, as big of an idiot as he was, did still love Usagi. Maybe that was just the hopeless romantic part of her soul talking. But Minako was almost positive that it was her Venus blood telling her to believe that they would get back together. They had broken the meeting up soon after that, each one sure that they had solved the problem and Usagi was just upset about the enemy. Even Luna and Artemis had nodded and left to go to the Command Center. Usagi had watched her friends walk to their own houses before turning and going to hers. The tears began to fall then. She knew what was happening, but it would burden them and that was the last thing she wanted to do. Besides, there was nothing they could do. Usagi clenched her fist and took deep breaths. She wouldn't be weak. She would face this challenge head on... even though she knew there wasn't a remote chance in hell that she would win. ******************************************************************* Usagi groaned as she sat up in her bed nearly a week later. She felt so heavy...as though the Earth's gravity and tripled over night. Gritting her teeth, Usagi placed her feet on the floor and stood up, only to fall right back down and land on the ground with a thud. That was how Luna found her that morning. "Ne, Usagi-chan, you can't even get out of bed without falling, can you?" the small black cat sighed. "You're going to have to be a lot more graceful in the future." Usagi closed her eyes and forced a smile. "I know, Luna! I just tripped when I got up! I'm sure all that stuff about being Serenity will come back to me, someday!" she exclaimed as she forced herself up and out of the room. Chibi-Usa moved out of Usagi's way as she walked out the door, stumbling the entire time. "She didn't even argue with you, Luna," Chibi-Usa whispered. Luna furrowed her brow. "I think she's just got a lot on her mind, Chibi-Usa-chan. Ever since Rubeus' defeat, she's become even worse. Maybe it's because you know her identity. She's afraid they'll come after you through her, I suppose," Luna babbled on. Frowning, Chibi-Usa began walking out of the room, but stopped for a moment. "They aren't really after her, Luna," she whispered before running out of the room. ******************************************************************* "It's happening so quickly," Usagi said softly to herself. "I can feel it. I suppose that's what I get for-oof!" She was cut off as she ran into a hard object and quickly fell to the ground like dead weight. She winced, that fall hurt more than it should have. She tried to stand up quickly and apologize, but found that it was hard. As she slowly stood up, she began to mumble apologies to the person she had run into. She knew it was Mamoru. She didn't need to look up to know that. As she stood, he began his usual insults. "Usagi-san, how many times are you going to run into me before you realize that I don't want you too anymore?" Mamoru demanded icily. Usagi finally managed to stand, ignoring the protests her body was giving her, and nodded at Mamoru. "Hai, I wasn't paying attention, Mamoru-san. Gomen nasai. I have to go to class now. Excuse me," she said softly, painfully, as she walked past him. "Mamo...ru...san?" Mamoru whispered to himself as soon as she was out of earshot. "Kami-sama..." he said with fear in his voice. ******************************************************************* That was when the blasted beep occurred. Usagi grimaced and ran to a small ally way. 'I'm going to be later than ever to school!' she thought. 'Haruna-sensei is going to have my head!' Usagi opened her communicator and saw a sweaty Sailormars on the screen. "It's about time, Odango Atama! The Droid's about three blocks away from my school. Hurry and get here!" she instructed before closing the line and leaving Usagi standing alone in the alleyway. "Of course I will come, Rei-chan," Usagi said to herself, but as though she was talking to Rei. "I don't have any other place to go and Kami only knows what you will do with out me..." She ran out of the alleyway and down the path she had just come from. She passed Mamoru on the way and stopped. "Mamoru-san!" she gasped out as she grabbed his arm. Mamoru was about to protest but didn't get to as Usagi continued on. "There's a droid by Rei-chan's school. Are you going to come?" she asked him attentively. Looking rather annoyed and put out, Mamoru nodded and the two took off. ******************************************************************* "BURNING MANDALA!" "SPARKLING WIDE PRESSURE!" Those two phrases were what greeted Sailormoon and Tuxedo Kamen as they approached the battlefield. Tuxedo Kamen jumped into a tree, incase he was needed later, and Sailormoon continued running to her friend's aide. When she arrived on the scene, she could see Mercury off to the side, slumped against a building wall, unconscious. Venus was desperately trying to wake her up while keeping a close eye on the battle that Jupiter and Mars were fighting. Taking a deep breath, Sailormoon ran onto the scene. "Hold it right there!" she called out to the droid. "An agent of love and justice, pretty sailor suited soldier, Sailormoon! In the name of the moon, I will punish you!" The droid stopped attack Sailormars and Sailorjupiter and turned to her and growled. Sailormoon held her stance and tried not to flinch. It was a tall, green monster with a large and colorful robe covering its body. "Sailormoon..." it hissed. Sailormoon bit her lip and took a step back. "DIE!" Screaming, Sailormoon jumped out of the way and landed on her hands and knees. Breathing hard at the jarring movement she stood up and turned to the monster. 'That really hurt...' "What are you doing, Sailormoon?!" Mars yelled as she cradled her right hand. "Just kill it already!" A red rose streaked down and landed in the monster's stomach, causing a scream of pain to erupt from its throat. "Now, Sailormoon!" Sailormoon nodded and pulled out her Cutie Moon Rod. "MOON PRINCESS HALATION!" Sailormoon smiled as she watched the Droid crumbled to dust and a small gem landed in the center of the pile and faded from green to gray. Mars opened her mouth and began yelling at Sailormoon about her timing, her falling and being late. Mercury had awakened and, with Venus's help, walked over to where Moon and Mars were. Sailormoon simply nodded to Mars, she didn't have the strength to fight with her, but then stopped. Her eyes went wide and she began to cough. A hoarse, horrible sound came from her throat and she fell to the ground, still coughing. "Usagi!" the Senshi yelled as they rushed to her and crowded around her. Tuxedo Kamen jumped down from the tree and landed next to Sailormoon. Her hand was to her chest as she desperately tried to stop herself from coughing. Attentively, Tuxedo Kamen placed his hand on her back in a semi-comforting, if not cold, way. Seconds later, she stopped coughing. "I-I'm okay," she gasped out, her throat horse. "What happened?!" Tuxedo Kamen demanded, worry clearly laced in his voice. He realized what he had just said and his eyes clouded over again, but even he knew it was human nature to be concerned about someone who was apparently sick. "If you're sick, you shouldn't be fighting." "Sailormoon!" a high-pitched voice called from off to the side. Sailormoon turned to the side and caught a small body in her arms. "Chibi-Usa?!" Sailormoon exclaimed as she held the small girl. "What are you doing here?" she demanded. Chibi-Usa stood back and looked down. "Ano...watashi...watashi wa..." she stumbled over the words slightly before she continued. "Um...I-I was on my way to school when I heard the fighting! I'm so sorry, Sailormoon! But are you okay?" she asked with concern in her voice. Sailormoon grinned and nodded at the girl. "I'm fine, Chibi-Usa," she assured the girl as she stood up. "I must be coming down with something, don't worry about me." She turned to all of her friends. "Any of you. It's really nothing," she insisted. "If you say so..." Venus whispered uncertainly. "Come on!" Mako said as she detransformed. "We gotta hurry. We're all going to get detention!" Sailormoon giggled. "Yeah, so what else is new? Chibi-Usa?" she spoke to the little girl. "Would you like me to walk you to school?" Chibi-Usa nodded and waited for Usagi to detransform. The five other warriors stared in disbelief as the two held hands and began to walk away. "Ja ne, minna! Ja, Mamo-chan!" Chibi-Usa called to them. Usagi turned and looked at her friends. With a smile she called out her good-byes. "Ja, minna-chan. Ja ne, Mamoru-san..." The Senshi stood there in shock for a few more minuets before Rei managed to speak. "Did she call him 'Mamoru-san'?!" "Un...she did..." Ami agreed. "She's giving up!" Minako told the others in shock as she looked to Tuxedo Kamen, now Mamoru, whose face was set in stone and unreadable. "Don't you have anything to say about that?" she asked. Mamoru shrugged. "Why should I?" He set his jaw as he watched where the two girls had walked off and resisted the urge to sigh. 'That's twice in one day, Usako. Why did you change now?' "You bastard!" Mako screamed. "She's giving up everything and all you can say is that you don't care?!" She lunged at him, ready to strike, but the other three managed to hold her back. "Mamoru-san," Ami said through clenched teeth as she barely held her friend back in her condition, "I really suggest you leave before we lose our grip!" Not needing to be told twice, Mamoru ran off, far away from the rampaging Senshi of Strength. ******************************************************************* Usagi kneeled down in front of Chibi-Usa outside of her school. She took a deep breath and prepared to tell the child something she had been waiting to hear. She didn't know where along the line she and Chibi-Usa had become so close, but it seemed right. She missed the girl while she was away from her and, felt like some part of her that had been lost when Mamoru broke up with her was being returned. It was one of the best feelings in the world. "Chibi-Usa," she began softly, getting the girls attention. "I- I've decided. Soon, very soon, I'm going to give you the Ginzoushou." The girl gasped and gaped at Usagi. "I know that's how you can save your mother and I want you to. I think you'll have to do it with out me, but you can right? You're a strong girl!" Usagi said, believing every word of it. Tears had welled up in Chibi-Usa's eyes and she through her arms around Usagi's neck. "Domo arigato, Usagi! I can save Mama now!" Usagi returned the hug and smiled. 'Hai. Don't worry, Chibi-Usa-chan. You'll save her.' "Usagi?" Chibi-Usa whispered as she pulled away. "Are you sure you're okay?" She looked into the older girls' eyes and noticed how they no longer held the glow like they used to. They were dead orbs and nothing else. Usagi smiled at her. "Of course I am! What made you think differently?" "For one, you called Mamo-chan 'Mamoru-san.' And you started coughing again on the way here," Chibi-Usa pointed out. Usagi closed her eyes in pain as she remembered what it felt like. She had felt like she was going to cough up a lung or something, but that didn't matter. And Mamoru...she would deal with that in her own way. "I'm really okay, Chibi-Usa. I just need some rest, I promise." She stood up and grabbed her own bag. "I'll be back ' after school today to get you, okay? Ja!" she called as she turned and ran to her own school, leaving the small child standing speechless behind her. ******************************************************************* 'Ja ne, Mamoru-san.' 'Ja ne, Mamoru-san.' 'Mamoru-san.' 'Mamoru-san...' Mamoru sighed and gave up on studying. He could get it out of his ears, the sound of her goodbye. It had been...almost final. But that wasn't possible. Or was it? She could have given up on him, he knew that, but he'd be damned before he'd think, and believe, that. He knew his Usako. She had never given up on anything in her life. He chuckled. Hell, he could remember back when they had first met, she had sworn that one day she would get him calling her something other than "Odango Atama." And she was right. Actually, her original intent had been for him to call her Usagi, but Usako had made her much happier. And now he was destroying her happiness. Destroying her faith. Destroying Her. Angered with himself, Mamoru slammed his fist into a near-by wall. "Kuso! What can't I just forget?! She has!" Mamoru blinked at the irony of that statement. "That's it. She has. I...I only pretend to and she's already moved on. Now she's out of danger's way...and can be happy." That's when the feeling came. Usagi was transforming. With another sigh, Mamoru walked out to his balcony and opened it. The attack was far away, but he would be able to make it. He hoped. ******************************************************************* Usagi sighed as her communicator beeped. She gulped before she opened it. She was going to go through with this. She had to. For their sakes. "Hai? Sailormoon desu," she greeted the familiar face of Sailormercury. "Usagi-chan! There's another droid! It's all the way on First Street, please hurry!" she told her friend. "Mercury!" Usagi grit her teeth, "I'm down by the piers! Mama and Papa took me there for clam chowder! I'll be there as soon as I can!" Mercury looked panicked but nodded. "Hurry, Usagi-chan!" Usagi forced back her tears and looked out her bedroom window as she shut off the communicator. "Gomen ne, minna. Gomen nasai!" ******************************************************************* Sailormoon arrived at the battle scene only moments later, and jumped into a tree. She felt her body begin to pull her back down to the ground, but forced herself to say up. She could see her friends fighting hard, but not as hard as they could, she knew. She bit her lip and prayed they would figure out that she wasn't coming. Not this time. Suddenly a fit of coughing over took her and she lurched forward, attempting to stop the horrible pain in her chest that her hacking was causing. A moment later, it stopped and she gasped. Tuxedo Kamen had just arrived and was in another nearby tree, most likely the one next to her. She pushed herself as far back as she could and prayed that she wouldn't be seen. ******************************************************************* Tuxedo Kamen landed gracefully in the tree where he would hide until Sailormoon needed him. Her cringed. Though it sure didn't seem like she did lately. He shook his head, telling his mind not to think about that and to focus on the battle. He blinked in confusion when he saw that there were only four girls out their battling. "Nani? Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Mars? Where's Sailormoon?" he asked himself. He could feel her, she was near, but he couldn't sense where, exactly. He closed his eyes and concentrated on her. He hoped that she wasn't on her way to the battle and having another of her coughing fits. His eyes snapped open when he found where she was. In the tree to his right. 'What the hell does she think she's doing?!' ******************************************************************* "CRESCENT BEAM!" The beam of light smashed into the ground, where the droid used to be. "Shimatta!" Venus swore as she turned to see the droid running behind her. "It's fast!" It was a bright red color with yellow hair and a yellow gem around its' waist. And it was ugly. It was very, very ugly. "Where's Sailormoon?!" Mars yelled as she dodged a blast of yellow energy. "SHABON SPRAY!" "She was all the way on the other side of town when I contacted her! She'll be here soon!" Mercury assured them. They fought fruitlessly for several more minuets before they realized that just stalling was getting them nowhere. From the trees, Tuxedo Kamen jumped down and joined them. The four girls didn't glare at him, but instead were incredibly grateful that he was going to help. "Okay, do we have a plan?" he asked them as he looked up at the trees. Sailormoon didn't want to be found, obviously, so he wasn't going to say anything. Jupiter cracked her knuckles. "We have to stop stalling and just finish it. Sailormoon won't be here before this thing destroys something, possibly us." Mercury was furiously typing on her computer and smiled slightly. "We're going to have to attack all at once. Tuxedo Kamen-sama, if you could distract it, please?" she asked. Tuxedo Kamen nodded his head and jumped at the droid, throwing roses and dodging its' attacks. "BURNING MANDALA!" Several rings of fire wrapped around the droid and it screamed in pain while turning its' attention to Sailormars. "SHINE AQUA ILLUSION!" The spray of ice water seemed to cancel out the burning for the droid, but caused just as much damage to it. "VENUS LOVE ME CHAIN!" The chain of hearts ripped through the air and wrapped around the droid, holding it in place. Jupiter grinned and her lightning rod extended. "SPARKLING WIDE PRESSURE!" There was a tortured scream as the lightning hit it and disappeared. They stood there in total shock for a few moments before Venus jumped up and grinned. "We did it!" she exclaimed. "We defeated something...with out Sailormoon..." Mercury said softly. "SAILORMOON! She still isn't here!" Jupiter looked around. "I hope she's okay. She might still be sick from earlier and..." she didn't finish her sentence. "We better go and find her," Mars sighed as she blew hair out of her face. "That Odango Atama probably got lost on the way over!" No one nodded agreement, but all four of the Senshi took off in different directions, searching for their missing leader. Tuxedo Kamen unclenched his fists and turned to a nearby tree. "They're gone now, Sailormoon. Now get down here before I come and get you," he growled. Sailormoon jumped out of the tree and landed, none too gracefully, on her feet. She looked up at her former lover and tilted her head to the side. Her eyes were lifeless and her skin was pale in the moonlight. She seemed more tired than normal for this time of the night. It wasn't like her. "What? Did I do something wrong?" she asked. Tuxedo Kamen's eyes burned, he forgot about feeling sorry and worried for her, and he walked up to her and grabbed her wrist. Sailormoon winced and tried to pull away, but Tuxedo Kamen held her firm. "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING?! We nearly got killed out there, and you're asking what you did wrong?!" he yelled at her. "Are you completely heartless? Do you find joy in watching your friends fight for their lives?!" Sailormoon was taken back. But she narrowed her ashen eyes and mustered enough strength to pull away from him. "Is that any different than what you normally do? Or have done?! I'm not the heartless one here, you are! All you do is throw a rose and then run! You don't see if I -if WE- ever might need you during the battle, but only when I, or one of the others, is about to be killed! None of you were in danger down there, I made sure. What I just did, was for all of your own good." Sailormoon bit her lip, afraid to say too much. "You'll understand very soon." Sailormoon turned and walked away. "Don't worry, Tuxedo Kamen-sama. As long as I live, nothing will happen to any of you." Tuxedo Kamen blinked, stunned into shock by her words, as she faded down the street. "What is she talking about?" ******************************************************************* Usagi stumbled into her room, breathing hard. She collapsed onto her bed and took several deep breaths. "So soon?" she whispered to herself. Usagi blinked and it hit her. The reality of what was happening slammed into her like a ton of bricks. She curled into a ball and softly wept. "Mamo-chan..." she whispered. "Mamo-chan..." She reached under her pillow and pulled out a series of letters. There was one for each Senshi, Chibi-Usa, the cats and even her family and Naru. Breathing heavily, she picked up a pen and a piece of paper from the desk beside her bed. She only had one more letter to write. And that was to her Mamo-chan. Dear Mamo-chan, Gomen nasai. I can't call you Mamoru-san. It's too hard. I wanted to say your name to you one more time...but I can't. Mamo-chan, please, make sure that Chibi-Usa gets to her home safely and is able to rescue her mother. I wish I could help her, but I can't. There seems to be a lot of things that I can't do, isn't there? I'm sure that now, you know the reason I let you and the girls fight alone earlier. It was all I could do to make sure that you would be able to defend yourselves against the Black Moon before I died. I...Mamo-chan, I've know that I was going to die for two months now. I'm not sure how I survived the first fourteen years of my life with out you. Maybe it was because you hadn't openly said you didn't love me...I'm not sure. Maybe you could ask Luna for me. But when you renounced your love...part of our link was shattered. I don't know if you remember, but being the Tsuki Princess means that the moon is where I belong. I live on the earth, because mother knew you would be here and would keep me alive through the link, but...you can guess what happened. It's not your fault, and I wish the Ginzoushou had been able to help me hold out until we were finished with battling the Black Moon, but I wasn't strong enough. This isn't your fault, Mamo-chan. You may not love me, but I know you care that I've died. Please, please don't blame yourself, because I know you will. I came to earth...because I wanted to be near you. Love is blind. You may not love me...but I love you will all of my heart and soul. Aishiteru, Mamo-chan. Aishiteru. Usagi Ever so carefully, Usagi folded the letter and placed it in the stack by her bed. "I'm such an idiot. I tell him not to feel guilty then I go on about how much I love him," she muttered to herself. "So stupid!" She cursed as a coughing fit came on again and tried to sit up but found she didn't have the strength. The Earth's gravity was pushing her back down into the bed. It hurt like nothing before. Not even fighting Queen Metalia had compared to this. Two tears fell from her eyes as she saw a pink head of hair peaking from the door. "Chibi...Usa?" Usagi croaked. "USAGI!" she exclaimed when she saw how badly her friend looked now. Her face was white and her hair limp. Her lips were dry and cracked as her pale blue eyes, that no longer held a sparkle, blinked slowly as they watched the girl. "What's wrong?!" Chibi-Usa demanded as she grabbed Usagi's hand. Usagi's breathing became shallow and she turned to smile at the girl. "Don't worry, Chibi-Usa...I'm just going away for a little while, that's all. Nothing to cry about!" she assured the girl with a fake smile. Chibi-Usa shook her head. "Are you...dying?" she whispered. Chibi-Usa hated that word. Hated it with all her being. Probably because she had seen so much of it in her five years, and it had only been in those past weeks she had seen it all. She knew what death was. It wasn't a "trip", it wasn't "only for a little while." Death was as permanent as it got. And she hated it. Usagi looked out the window where she could see the moon shining its' beams to her, beckoning her home. "Hai." ******************************************************************* Standing abruptly, and knocking over his cup of coffee, Mamoru gasped and felt a part of him beginning to slip away. The most important part of him. He began to walk down the hall to the door and slammed into a wall as he collapsed to the floor. He didn't feel any pain...but it was more of an, urgency? He wasn't sure. But Usako needed him. He could feel it. No...he *couldn't* feel it. "Kuso! USAKO!" Mamoru swore as he stood as fast as he could and ran to his door. His body was becoming numb and he knew that he was already too late, but he had to keep going. He could feel her dying. He could feel her breathing shallowly, savoring each molecule of air. He could feel her...calling him. Begging forgiveness. "Hold on, Usako! Oh god, please, hold on!" ******************************************************************* Chibi-Usa shook her head in denial. "No...no you're not!" she insisted with a half smile. "You're-you're just sick, Usagi! That's it! You're sick! You're can't die!!!" she screamed at her. Usagi smiled at her. "Chibi-Usa...I want to help you find your mother. I want to see the future I'll never be apart of, just to know that Mamo-chan and the Senshi are happy." "The Senshi are, Usagi. But I've never seen Mamo-chan before I came here," Chibi-Usa whispered. "You can't leave him, Usagi. He still loves you!" "Chibi-Usa...please," Usagi begged as she felt a calmness begin to wash over her, "he doesn't love me..." 'Kami-sama...Mamo-chan, we can't both be gone in the future!' "Yes he does!" Chibi-Usa insisted. "He loves you! He looks at you the same way my papa looks at my mama! If you leave, he's going to hurt himself! I know it!" Usagi closed her eyes and let several salty tears flow down her cheeks. Chibi-Usa shook her head. "I'm not letting you die!" she screamed at her as she grabbed her communicator. "MINNA!" she exclaimed in near tears. Four concerned faces popped on the screen. "Hurry to Usagi's house! Onegai!" They didn't get a chance to open their mouths as Chibi-Usa screamed. "GET HERE AND HELP!!!" "USAKO!" Mamoru's voice screamed from outside of her window, on the balcony. (AN: She has one is Stars!) Chibi-Usa jumped up and ran over to the door and let Mamoru inside. "Mamo-chan! Help her!" she begged. "She's dying!" Mamoru paid little mind to the child and rushed to Usagi's bedside. Kneeling down beside her, he took her small hand in his and held it. "Usako...?" he said to her softly. "What's happened to you?" Usagi looked up at him and touched the chiseled features of his face. "Mamo-chan...I..." she gasped and swallowed, "I'm..." Mamoru didn't let her finish. He already knew. "No! You can't be!" Usagi smiled at him and, for a second, she felt her strength return. "Gomen nasai, Mamoru. Gomen Nasai." There was the sound of the door opening downstairs and Usagi knew it wasn't her family. Her parents had gone away for the weekend and her brother was at a friend's house. There was the sound of feet running up the stairs and a slight crash, probably Minako falling down, Usagi and the others reasoned. The four girls and two cats burst into Usagi's room. They stopped short when they saw the scene before them. It wasn't the fact that Mamoru was there, they knew he would be there first, but her appearance. She was deathly pale and they could hear how slow she was breathing. "Usagi," Rei whispered as she sat on her friends' bed, "what's happened to you?" Usagi pushed herself up and was immediately met with the protests of the others. Deaf to their yells for her to stay down, she reached to her nightstand and picked up the stack of letters she had been writing for the past few weeks. Her hands were shaking as she handed each of her friends a letter. Casting her questioning glances they began to open their letters. "Iie!" she protested. "Please...open them after I'm...after I'm..." she trailed off. "YOU AREN'T GOING TO DIE, DAMN IT!" Mamoru shouted as he held her hand tighter. "Usagi-chan!" Luna yelled as she jumped on the bed. She put her paw on her charge's shoulder. "How did this happen?" Ami's eyes were filled with tears and she slowly let them spill over. Mako forced herself not to cry. Right now, it wasn't right. Minako was openly weeping, making harsh sobbing sounds. Rei simply stood there in shock. Each and every one of them could see what was happening, where this was leading. Usagi didn't answer for a moment but she looked at Mamoru out of the corner of her eye. "It was no one's fault but my own, Luna," she rasped. "It was my decision to come here...this is my price." "By Mare Serenitatis!" Artemis exclaimed. "But you aren't, technically, the Princess! How can it be?" he asked her. Usagi took two breaths before answering. "No matter what form I take, no matter where I am reborn...I am always Serenity." Chibi-Usa gasped softly. 'Masaka!' "Gomen nasai minna..." Usagi's eyes closed slightly. "Gomen nasai. Mamo-chan......aishite...ru." The Senshi stopped their movements. They watched as she closed her eyes for the last time and smiled slightly at them. "PRINCESS!" Minako screamed. The breath released from Usagi's chest and her eyes shut tightly. Her hand fell limp in Mamoru's hand and his eyes went wide. "Iie....IIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!" he screamed as he held her tightly to his chest. Rei was about to run to her friend, but Minako grabbed her arm. "Dame, Rei-chan. Let him be with her for now." Mako rubbed her eyes and saw that Chibi-Usa had witnessed the entire ordeal. She looked a little pale, but then again, so did everyone else in the room. The four girls and two cats took their letters and left the room. Mako picked Chibi-Usa up and practically dragged her away from Usagi and Mamoru. ******************************************************************* Mamoru pulled away from the limp body of his girlfriend. "Boku hoshii anata, Usako! Hoshii Usako!" Mamoru exclaimed as he let tears fall from his eyes. "Koishii...why did you leave me? I know that I lied to you for so long, but you don't deserve death." Mamoru took a ragged breath and told her everything. "I had dreams of you, Usako. Of our wedding day...It was so happy, so beautiful. I remember that we were going to kiss and then...Kami-sama! You died, Usako! You were ripped from my arms and killed! I just wanted to protect you, Usako! I never wanted to hurt you!" (AN: Basic translation is: I need you, Usako! I need Usako! Koishii = Beloved) He could feel it inside of him. It was like only a few weeks ago when she had been put in that sleeping spell, but this time...she was never going to wake up. He would never save her again, never hold her again. He would never kiss her again...That was what hit him. He would never be able to say he loved her. He would never be able to truly apologize. He could feel their link disappearing quickly with her death, and he knew he had to join her. He had to join her in death. "But that's what you did, Endymion," a voice interrupted his thoughts. "You hurt her. My sacrifice must mean so little to you if you would throw it away like that," a familiar voice spoke from behind Mamoru. Mamoru stood and whipped around, coming face to face with a miniature version of Queen Serenity with fairy's wings. "Queen Serenity-sama!" he exclaimed. Serenity's eyes held, not her usual gentleness, but anger. She floated over to her daughter and touched her cheek. "My sacrifice must mean so little to you if you would let this happen to her. The only thing she ever wanted in life was to be with you, and because that was impossible in your previous life, I made it possible in this life for you to be together and you throw it away!" Mamoru didn't look at the Queen, and kneeled beside Usagi. "I didn't want to leave her, Serenity-sama. I never wanted to leave her. You know that," he whispered. Serenity sighed. "Yes...I do know that. But what you did, and have done, is unforgivable. She can't live on this earth with out you, and you knew that." Mamoru clenched his fist. "I didn't know that if I stayed away from her, it would do that. Please, your majesty, I didn't know." There was a silence in the room for several moments before Mamoru spoke again. "Isn't there any way to bring her back?" he whispered brokenly. "I love her...I never wanted this to happen." There was another silence in the room, one that hurt Mamoru's ears. "Would you give yourself to save her?" Serenity asked quietly. "Would you die for her to live, Endymion?" Mamoru turned to the Queen, his eyes red and blood shot. He had never looked like that, Queen Serenity remembered. He has always been so strong when his people had been destroying each other, but the death of one girl caused him to fall apart. "I would take my own life with my bare hands if it meant she was able to live for another minute." Serenity smiled. She wasn't supposed to interfere with the mortal realm, but she didn't see how she could let her daughter die like this, and it was a good lesson to Endymion. "Well then, perhaps you should tell her that." A warm light began to come from Usagi's chest, where her broach was, and filled the room. Outside in the hall, the group of girls saw the light and ran inside to see Queen Serenity floating over Usagi with Mamoru on the side. Not fully conscious of what he was doing, Mamoru touched Usagi's broach and felt something akin to pain and pleasure at the same time. "Usako...come back to me," he whispered. The light became brighter until the entire room was filled with this light. Mamoru pulled his hand back and gazed down at Usagi. Usagi opened her eyes and gasped for breath. Several coughs ensued after she was finally able to get air into her lungs. The people in the room stood in shocked silence. Serenity disappeared, but the Senshi could still hear her voice. "Don't abandon your promises so quickly and with out hesitation, Endymion. Next time, you may not be able to use your energy in such a way to revive her." "Okaa-sama?" Usagi rasped as she looked around for her mother. "Usako..." Mamoru whispered as he cupped her cheek in his hand. "Daijoubu?" Usagi took several deep breaths. "Daijoubu...Mamo-chan..." Mamoru swept Usagi into his embrace and held her tightly against his chest, whispering promises and begging forgiveness from her. Usagi only smiled and closed her eyes, letting tears of joy fall. In his ears, Mamoru could hear Queen Serenity's voice, telling him over and over that she may not be there next time. He didn't know why she had come to save her daughter, technically she wasn't allowed on Earth. 'Arigato, Serenity-sama.' The Senshi smiled at each other, though they had no idea what happened just a moment ago, they would get answers. But for now, they decided to leave the couple to themselves. They probably hand a lot to work out. As they were leaving the room, Chibi-Usa smiled to herself. 'Okaa-san...Otou-san...ohayo. I'll tell you later.' The door closed softly and Mamoru and Usagi pulled away from each other. "Usako I-" Usagi put a finger to his lips. "I know. I heard everything you said Mamo-chan. I was still in the room, even though...my soul and body were not one. Mamo-chan, please, promise me you won't leave me again!" she begged. Mamoru wrapped his arms around Usagi and smiled. Slowly, but surely, he pressed his lips to hers in the gentlest of kisses. Gentle and yet as passionate as ever. Usagi quickly responded with as much fever as him. Mamoru pulled back and said the one phrase that Usagi had been waiting for him to say. She had heard it before, but this time, she was alive. "Aishiteru, Usako." END. Soooo...was it sweet? Crappy? Sucked? Too sappy? Hee-hee... probably the last one, ne? Well no matter what, I want your e-mail! ONEGAI!!! And the Top 25 Usa/Mamo WAFF (Warm and fuzzy feeling) stories voting has started again. Don't forget to vote! http://www.lunap.com/umwaff2000.html E-mail: stefaniecraig@hotmail.com Website: http://home.att.net/~stef_chan/index.html ICQ: 634674320 If you add me to your ICQ list, please tell me why, and who you are! ^_^ Stef-chan