Pressure

	Hey, what do you know, I'm not dead.
	My apologies for the year-long break, but I honestly couldn't think of 
anything to write.  But after watching a few weepy TV shows and movies, I got 
inspired and finished this story.
	I've gotten a tremendous response to my "Soul Mate: Alternate Endings" and 
many people have asked me if I would be writing another installment.  I told 
them that I was thinking of doing Usagi and Mamoru's wedding, but unfortunately 
I'm at a very large writer's block.  But I did come up with a new idea for this 
story.  This is a bit on the serious and weepy side.  It takes place during that 
ever-popular part in the series where Mamoru and Usagi have broken up.
	Well, happy reading.
	Black Lady

	Sailormoon belongs to blah, blah, blipity blah.

					Pressure

	In the silent night, the moon and stars shone, illuminating everything in 
the still city.  It was a very picturesque scene that Usagi usually enjoyed.  
She loved basking herself in the light of the moon and stars; it made her feel 
safe and loved.  Loved by Queen Serenity of the former Moon Kingdom, her prince, 
her senshi, her family.
 	But she had no thoughts about the moon, family or friends tonight.  She 
just wanted silence or some sense of peace.
	Usagi lay in her bed, underneath her blankets and her head underneath her 
pillow.  But not even the blankets and pillow could keep the voices out of her 
head.  She tried squeezing her eyes tight and putting her hands over her ears, 
but she could still hear the voices.
	"This is the third time this month a cheque has bounced," came Ikuko's 
angry voice from downstairs in the den.
	"Perhaps it wouldn't have bounced if you wouldn't spend our money, my 
money, on useless items,"  returned Kenji's equally angry voice.
	"Then why don't you just divorce me then?"  Ikuko shouted back.  "That's 
what you want, isn't it?"
	<They're fighting again,>  Usagi thought with a lump in her throat.  <This 
is the fifth argument in two weeks. >
	The fighting continued, but this time in quiet and muffled voices.  After 
a while, the door to Usagi's bedroom opened.
	"Who is it?"  Usagi whispered, lifting her head from underneath her 
pillow.
	A small figure holding a feline shape entered the room
	"Usagi," came Chibi-Usa's small voice.  "May I sleep with you tonight? I'm 
scared."
	Usagi saw the young child's visibly shaken form and she swallowed her own 
fears to sooth the child's.
	She put a comforting smile on her face and motioned for Chibi-Usa to lie 
in her bed.
	"Try to get some sleep," she said in soothing tones to the child.
	While Chibi-Usa pulled the blankets over her, Luna stepped closer to 
Usagi.
	"This is new for her," Luna said in a hushed tone.  "She's never 
experienced fights or divorces before."
	Usagi looked as if she wanted to say something but instead gave her head 
an uncertain nod.
	<This is new for me as well Luna,> she thought with bitterness.
	The three tried to fall asleep, but it wasn't until the muffled voices 
stopped that they did.

	The next morning, Usagi woke up with a start.  She had had a nightmare in 
which her parents had announced they were getting a divorce.
	"Mama, Papa,"  she had begged.  "Please don't do this, I know that the 
both of you still love each other."
	Neither of her parents had said anything, but had just stared at her.
	"We're doing this because we can't stand the grief you give us anymore,"  
her mother had said at last.  "Sneaking around with your friends, sneaking 
around with that boy, the list is endless."
	Usagi's eyes had widened.
	"Do you really mean that?"  Her voice barely a whisper.
	"Of course, you're the reason that we're getting a divorce,"  her father 
had said in a loud voice.
	"Tousan, Kaasan, I'm sorry,"  she whispered.  "I'm so sorry."
	Usagi had woken up then, but her father's last words were still ringing in 
her mind.
	<That can't be true,> her mind whispered.  <It can't be. >  She wrapped 
her arms around her legs and tried to calm herself down.  Her eye caught her 
alarm clock and noticed that it was only 7:00.
	Beside her Luna started to stir.  Usagi quickly steadied her emotions and 
tried to put on a pleasant smile.
	"Good morning, Luna,"  she said with a forced smile and in a voice that 
was not hers.
	"Good morning, Usagi,"  Luna said while arching her back to stretch.  
"Although I don't believe that you've ever woken earlier than me before."
	Usagi ignored her and started to get out of her bed.  Chibi-Usa was still 
sleeping, and she had a happy little smile in her face.
	<At least one of us didn't have nightmares last night.>
	Luna noticed Usagi staring at Chibi-Usa.  Usagi's look was serious, and 
there was a flicker of envy in it.
	"Daijobu, Usagi?"  she asked, her brow furrowed with concern.  "Is it 
about your parents?"
	For a moment Usagi's eyes became wet as she remembered her dream last 
night.  But she forced the tears down and put on a serious expression in her 
face.
	"I'm fine Luna, thank you for asking," she said while turning to face her.  
"But would you do me a favor please?"
	"Of course,"  Luna said immediately, she rarely saw such seriousness in 
Usagi.
	"Would you please not tell anyone about my parents?"  Usagi asked in a 
grave voice.  "Not the other senshi, not Artemis, not Mamo-ch-, I mean Mamoru, 
not anyone.  I don't want to make it public that my parents don't do anything 
but fight."
	"You have my word,"  Luna said solemnly.  She then paused for a moment.  
"But if I may..."
	"Yes?"
	"Why don't you want the others to know?"
	"Because..." Usagi trailed off for a bit.  "Because since Mamo-ch-, Mamoru 
and I separated, I really haven't been the best leader of the senshi.  The 
others don't say it, but I know that they think that I should just move on and 
stop thinking of Mamoru.  And now with my parents, I don't think my skills as 
leader will improve."
	"But," Luna was confused.  "If you tell the others about your parents, 
they would understand."
	"No," Usagi said shaking her head.  "They'd pity me, I don't want pity 
from anyone."
	"They wouldn't pity you," Luna argued.  "They'd sympathize with you, but 
not pity you."
	"There's a fine line between sympathy and pity; and I know that the senshi 
are my closest friends but I know that every time they'd see me they'd think 
'poor girl', 'let's not push her'.  I don't want special treatment, I don't want 
pity, I don't want anyone to know."  Usagi's voice sounded old and tired.
	"Don't you have any confidence in the senshi?"  Luna's voice was sad.
	"I do," her voice sounded even older.  "But...  I just don't want anyone 
to know."
	"I gave you my word, so I will not tell anyone,"  Luna said, but her face 
clearly showed her disagreement.
	"Arigato."   
	Usagi started to walk towards her closest to get her school uniform.
	"What about Chibi-Usa?"  Luna asked.
	"I'll talk to her later,"  Usagi replied as she walked towards her 
bathroom.
	"You've changed,"  Luna said, but it was certain that she meant that it 
was not for the better.  
	Usagi paused before she entered her bathroom.  Without turning her head 
she answered Luna.  Luna didn't have to see her face to know how old Usagi had 
gotten since her parent's fights, she could hear it in her voice.
	"Things have changed,"  then Usagi disappeared into the bathroom.

	Usagi was halfway to school and was walking slowly along her normal route.  
She had left the house early and so she had the time to walk to school, instead 
of doing her usual sprint.  Her brother and her had left the house early because 
her parents had started to fight at the breakfast table.  The fight had picked 
up where it had left off the night before: money.  Shingo and her had not even 
bothered to finish breakfast before leaving.  Part of their routes to their 
schools was the same and when they had walked together it had been filled with 
ominous silence.  Both were afraid to voice their worst fears.
	Usagi started to walk slower, dreading to have to go to school and putting 
on her cheerful fa硤e.  She noticed a figure running towards her in the 
distance.  Her heart sank as she realized that it was Mamoru on his morning jog.
	<Shimatta,>  she cursed.
	Her chest started to feel tight and twisted.
	<Not now, I can't deal with my parents and him at the same time.>
	The twisting sensation started to intensify as Mamoru's figure drew 
closer.
	<I don't want to face him.  I can't face him.  I don't want to have him 
reject me right now,>  she started to look for another route that she could 
follow, but her heart fell as she realized that she couldn't take another route 
without being very late to class.
	She froze as she saw Mamoru come closer towards her.
	<Think, think!>  she commanded herself.
	She was still frozen as Mamoru's shape loomed closer.
	<THINK!>  the frantic voice screamed.  
	She gripped her bookbag tightly, frozen to her spot, and prayed to 
whatever gods were listening for help.

	Mamoru was on his routine jog that morning.  Lately, he found that this 
was the only time that he could be at peace.  When he slept, the dreams haunted 
him, and any other waking moment Usagi was bound to run into him.  Early morning 
was the only time that he could be sure that he wouldn't see Usagi and her 
harrowed eyes.
	But this morning, peace was the last thing he had on his mind.  The dreams 
were at their worse, so bad were the dreams that he hadn't slept in two days.  
And all over his body he could feel that his Usagi was hurting.  But it wasn't 
the normal feeling he felt when she was Sailor Moon, it was a suffocating pain 
that wouldn't let him stop thinking about her.
	<I have to know why she's hurting so badly,>  he thought, his eyes 
determined.  <She's never hurt this badly before.>
	<You know why she's hurting,>  said the awful voice in his head; it was 
the same voice that was his conscience since he had broken up with Usagi.  <You 
broke up with her using a horrible excuse, and you spurn her every time you see 
her.  It's no wonder she hurts so badly.>
	<You know what you have seen in your dreams,>  another voice in his head 
said coldly.  <Every night is the same dream, and every time you even consider 
talking to her, the dreams will come one step closer to coming true.>
	<You don't believe in the love that the two of you share?>  The other 
voice asked nastily.  <The two of you have died for each other, and you don't 
have enough confidence in your love for each other?>
	Mamoru tried to silence the voices, but they persisted.  He sighed heavily 
and braced himself for the rest of the day in which he knew it would be a repeat 
of the voices.  He wiped his forehead on his towel and started to see a figure 
in the horizon.
	<Usako!>  his eyes widening with joy.  Even now, after all that had 
happened, the sight of her still made his heart feel glad.
	But the voice defending the dreams took over his mind.
	<Do you want her to die?> the voice demanded.  <Do you want to see her be 
torn before your eyes, and watch while knowing that you could've prevented it?>
	<Your love for each other has survived over a thousand years, and now you 
have doubts?>  the other voice asked.  <She died for you on the Moon Kingdom, 
and this is how you repay her.  You don't deserve her.>
 	Mamoru struggled with himself as he saw Usagi draw closer, finally the 
voice defending the dreams won.
	<Ignore her, spurn her, don't talk to her,>  it commanded.

	Usagi's eyes were shut tightly as she was still frozen to her spot.  
	<If I head towards the other way, I can hide until he passes by,>  she 
thought quickly.
	She pried open one of her eyes and saw that Mamoru was getting quite close 
to her.
	<Have some pride,>  another voice snapped suddenly.  <You told Luna that 
you wanted no one to know how hard your life was, so act like it then.>
	Usagi opened both her eyes and forced herself to walk a natural pace.  She 
took several deep breaths to try to calm her raging heartbeat.
	<I am Sailor Moon, I have defeated Queen Beryl, Metallia and all their 
minions, and I refuse to be defeated by Chiba Mamoru.>
	She started walking and she felt her confidence rise.  But she saw that 
Mamoru was several meters away and her confidence started to waver.  But she 
continued walking towards him.
	<I am Sailor Moon.  I am Sailor Moon,>  she repeated in her head.
	
	Usagi and Mamoru walked towards each other.  They passed by each other 
without a word or a passing glance at one another, like two perfect strangers.

	<He ignored me,>  Usagi thought with bitterness as she walked on.  <The 
end result of a thousand year old love.>
	She continued her quiet walk to her school with an empty sensation in her 
chest.

	<She passed right by me without saying anything, she didn't even look at 
me,>  Mamoru thought with dejection.
	<You expect more after what you did to her?>  the nasty voice replied.  
<Really Mamoru, you are so full of arrogance.>
	Mamoru tuned the voice out and continued on his morning jog.

	Usagi arrived at school well before the morning bell was to ring.  She 
ignored the people around her in the courtyard and went to sat down on a bench 
underneath a tree.  She sat back and dully stared at her hands, unaware of 
anything in the background.  
	<Being Sailor Moon is not worth this aggravation and grief,>  she thought, 
eyes staring vacantly.  <My family, Mamoru-san, they can't stand to be near me.  
My friends believe I'm an incompetent leader foolishly fawning over a man.>
	"Usagi-chan," Ami called out from across the yard, breaking Usagi out of 
her reverie.  Makoto was with her and the two started to walk towards her.
	<Remember, your friends already think less of you for acting this way over 
Mamoru-san.  Don't let them know about your parents or they'll never respect 
you,> Usagi thought grimly.  <Just smile and dance.>
She put on a polite, almost shy smile onto her face before the two reached her.
	"Usagi-chan, I can't believe you're here this early,"  Makoto said in an 
impish voice.
	"Good morning Ami-chan, Mako-chan," she said in a cheerful voice.  "The 
schoolyard looks different when I'm walking in rather than running in."
	"We were a little surprised to see you this early,"  Ami commented.
	"I thought I'd try being on time for once,"  Usagi said with a small 
shrug.  Her hands were subtly fidgeting with each other.  Makoto and Ami missed 
Usagi's body language and sat down with her to continue pleasantly talking to 
her.
	"By the way, I have some news concerning the attacks by Rubeus,"  Ami said 
while pulling her small computer out of her bag.
	"What is it?"
	"I've been analyzing the locations of the attacks and last night I noticed 
a pattern,"  while she spoke, she brought up the file on her computer.  "I don't 
know why I didn't notice this before, but here it is."
	Ami showed the small screen to Usagi.
	"It's almost the shape of a star,"  Ami said while continuing to type.  
	"It's highly likely that the next attack will be here."  As she spoke, she 
brought up an image of a building.
	"There?"
	"Isn't that the warehouse that's been abandoned for the past few years?"  
Makoto asked.
	"Yes, so if there were to be a fight, there's very little chance of 
civilians getting involved."
	Their conversation was interrupted by the morning bell.  They picked up 
their belongings and proceeded to class.

	After school the three met in the courtyard so that they could walk 
together to the senshi meeting at Rei's temple.  This was a rare occasion 
because Usagi was usually in detention at this time of day due to being late.
	Ami and Makoto were having an animated conversation and Usagi was only 
half-heartedly listening.
	"Usagi-chan?"  Ami asked tentatively.  "You've been awfully quiet the 
entire day.  Is everything all right?"
	Makoto nodded her head with concern for emphasis.
	Usagi put on a painfully cheerful expression that was starting to become a 
ritual for her.
	"That's kind of both of you to worry about me, but it's not needed."
	"Are you sure?"  Makoto asked, not quite believing her.
	"I've been a little unhappy lately,"  Usagi said, letting some of the 
truth out.  "But it'll pass."  Her voice had assurance in it.
	Makoto and Ami exchanged a look.  They were quite sure that Mamoru was the 
source of Usagi's unhappiness.
	Their hearts went out to Usagi.
	Usagi saw them exchange the look.  But instead of compassion, she saw 
pity.
	<They scorn me.  They only have contempt for me,>  Usagi's dark voice 
said.
Makoto saw the dark cloud pass over Usagi's eyes.
	"Let's go to the meeting, shall we?"  She said to change the topic.
	The three walked the way in silence.

	At the meeting, Usagi was only half listening.  Minako had just told a 
very funny story and the others were laughing hard.  But Usagi just had a polite 
smile on her face.
	<Listen to them laugh.  I envy them.  I wish I cold be any of them,  no 
shouting parents, no looks of detest when Mamoru-san looks at them.>
	Usagi suddenly became aware that the others were staring at her.  All of 
them had concerned looks on their faces. 	
	"Usa-chan,"  Rei said solemnly.  "We're worried about you."

	Usagi slowly climbed up the steps to her bedroom and entered her room.  
She flung herself on her bed and tried to clear her head of all thoughts.  It 
had taken her quite a while at the senshi meeting to convince the others that 
she was fine.  She knew that the others hadn't believed her when she had said 
that she was all right, but at this point she didn't care anymore.  The wretched 
day was nearly over, she just wanted to sleep to escape her reality.
	There was a sudden soft knock at the door.
	"Usagi-chan?"  Came Chibi-Usa's hesitant voice.
	Usagi found herself giving the child a tired but kind smile.
	"Come in,"  she said while beckoning the pink-haired child into her room.  
"Can I help you Chibi-Usa?"
	"I..."  Chibi-Usa stepped into her room ad approached the bed.  "What's 
happening with Ikuko-mama and Kenji-papa?"
	Usagi's eyes filled with tears, but she blinked them back.  She motioned 
for Chibi-Usa to sit on her bed beside her.
	"Adults marry each other because they love each other,"  Usagi said in a 
soft tone while stroking Chibi-Usa's hair.  "But sometimes, they fall out of 
love.  They start arguing and sometimes they don't want to be married to each 
other anymore."
	Chibi-Usa looked at her with shock.
	"Ikuko-mama and Kenji-papa don't love each other anymore?"  she asked 
softly.  During her time here, Chibi-Usa had come to love the Tsukinos as her 
own family, and they thought of them not loving each other frightened her.
	"They've grown apart Chibi-Usa,"  Usagi said, still stroking her hair.  
Then she turned Chibi-Usa to her and looked her in the eyes.  "But, you know 
what?  They still love you very much, and nothing will change that."
	Chibi-Usa's eyes filled with tears that looked to be mixed of sadness and 
relief.
	"Thank you,"  she whispered while hugging Usagi tightly.
	Usagi held her just as tightly.  Then Usagi remembered something.
	"Chibi-Usa,"  Usagi whispered, looking her straight in the face.  "Please 
don't tell the others of my parent's differences.  I'd like not to have others 
know of the problems in this family."
	Chibi-Usa looked at her, and despite her young face, a wise and 
understanding look appeared on her face.
	"I understand,"  Chibi-Usa said, giving Usagi another fierce hug.
	"Arigato."

	"Do you think she's still heartbroken over Mamoru-san?"  Minako asked 
thoughtfully to the others.  Usagi had left the meeting but the others had 
stayed to discuss Usagi's present state of mind.  She laid on her back on the 
floor of Rei's room and looked up at the ceiling with furrowed brows.
	"What else could it be?"  Makoto asked, frowning while playing with a 
strand of her hair.  "Broken hearts don't heal easily."
	Makoto thought back to when her former boyfriend had left her in the rain.  
She had thought she would've never gotten over him.  But she had, eventually.  
She gave herself a mental shake and brought her attention back to her friend.
	"I'm concerned about her ability to fight and to lead the senshi,"  Rei 
said hesitantly, slightly meek.
	The others raised their eyebrows at her callousness, Rei flushed red but 
continued to speak.
	"Don't get the wrong idea,"  she said quickly, but her voice was sure and 
strong.  "I love Usa-chan as much as any of you and I'm worried about her as 
well, but we have to be practical.  Being a senshi is not something that can be 
taken lightly; losing focus is not a luxury we can afford to lose."
	The others realized that Rei was right; broken heart or not, Usagi still 
had a duty.
	"I think Usa-chan just needs time,"  Ami said simply from her corner of 
the room.  "We should trust her that she knows the best thing to do.  If she 
wants time and understanding, we'll give it to her, but we shouldn't doubt her 
at all."
	The others slowly nodded their head.  They trusted Usagi and her 
judgement, and they knew that Usagi would never forget her duty.

	"Kenji,  Usagi's teacher would like us to both come in and have a 
conference with her,"  Ikuko's voice could be heard downstairs.  "She would like 
to talk to us about Usagi falling asleep in class."
	Usagi raised her head as she heard her parents start to talk in the 
kitchen.  After her talk with Chibi-Usa, she had fallen asleep.  Chibi-Usa had 
gone to a friend's house to play.  Then her heart sank as she realized that this 
would be leading to another argument for her parents.
	<This must be about last week,>  she cursed as she remembered why she had 
fallen asleep in science class.  <I was awake until four-o-clock in the morning 
in battle with a youma.>
	She suddenly noticed that her brother was in the hallway listening as 
well.  She noticed that his face was hard set and full of anger.
	"Again?"  came Kenji's voice.  "This is the third time this month.  You're 
her mother, can't you do something about this?"  
	"Excuse me?"  Ikuko's angry and indignant voice shouted.  "You're her 
father and you have a hand in raising our daughter as well."
	"Do you have any idea how much time I spend at the office trying to 
support our family?  I don't have time for dealing with this."
	"So your work comes before your family?  Maybe if you were a little less 
neurotic about leaving the office you'd be home more often."
	"At least I'm working!"
	"Are you saying that running a household and raising three children isn't 
considered working?"
	"What do you want from me?"
	Suddenly the household was quiet.
	Ikuko's voice was quiet and full of resignation.
	"I want a divorce."
	Kenji could be heard slamming an object onto a table and heading towards 
the front door.
	"I'll spend the night at a hotel.  I'll visit our lawyer in the morning,"  
his voice quiet as well.  He slammed the door behind him.

	Usagi gave a small whimper, then buried her head into her pillow and 
started to sob.
	A few moment later, a hard knock came at her door.
	Usagi looked up and saw her brother there.  He was crying as well, but he 
looked at her with a hateful glare.
	"I blame this on you," he whispered, but he may as well as have shouted.  
	"You're the reason Tousan and Kaasan fight, you're the reason for their 
divorce."
	"Shingo, I..."  but Usagi found that she couldn't defend herself.
	"I hate you,"  then her brother left.
	Usagi looked at where her brother had stood, a look of horrible 
realization dawning on her face.  
	<He's right, this is my fault,>  her mind whispered.
	She started to cry, it was the only thing that she could do.

	It was night time and once again the moon was full and shining 
brilliantly.  The Tsukino household was eerily quiet, not a single sound could 
be heard.  Usagi was no exception to this, she sat in a wicker chair in the 
corner of her room and silently rocked herself.  Her hair was tangled and 
disheveled and her eyes had the beginnings of dark circles.
She continued rocking, her eyes staring listlessly at Chibi-Usa's small frame in 
her bed.  When Chibi-Usa had come home that evening, Usagi had told her the news 
of the divorce.  At first Chibi-Usa had just stared at her but had then burst 
into tears and had cried herself to sleep.
	<This really is all my fault,>  she thought, her face had a lost look in 
it.  <I poison everyone.  Mamoru, my parents, Shingo.  I ruin everything I 
touch.>
	She wanted to cry, something to let her emotions out, but she found that 
she couldn't.  She was too tired, her entire being felt too empty and void.
	<I honestly did it.  I drove away the man I love, I broke up my parent's 
marriage, and I'll probably lead the senshi to their destruction with my 
leadership.>
	She looked at Chibi-Usa's form again and her eyes became even  more 
listless.
	<She'll hate me as well once she learns the truth,>  she thought.  <So 
will the others, once they realize how destructive I am.>
	For the rest of the night Usagi sat in her chair, unable to sleep, and 
silently rocked herself.

	The next morning, Usagi left the house before any of the others woke up.  
She didn't want to have to face anyone, she knew that their faces would be 
filled with accusation and grief.
	Usagi numbly walked to the park, not paying attention to anything.  Being 
Saturday, the park was filled with laughing children playing games and couples 
walking hand in hand together.  Noticing the happy scenes around her, Usagi felt 
left out.  She looked like she didn't belong either, her eyes were red with dark 
circles underneath and her hair was even more disheveled.  A young child chased 
a ball in front of her, she looked at the happy child and felt even more empty 
then the night before. 
	Sitting underneath the shade of a tree, she wished it wasn't so sunny and 
bright; she could feel the whole world mocking her.
	<After the divorce, I wonder which one of my parents will want me,>  she 
thought idly.  <They'll both fight to keep Shingo, but they'll both fight to 
have me live with the other one.>
	She stared at the grass in front of her.
	<It's what I deserve.>

	Chibi-Usa woke up to the sun shining down on her.  Her eyes hurt from 
crying the night before.  She looked around for Usagi but found her pajamas on 
top of the clothes hamper.
	<I wonder where she went,>  she thought.  She wanted someone to talk to, 
someone to soothe her fears, something that only Usagi could do.
She quickly changed into her play clothes and left the house with Luna-P 
following her.
	
	Chibi-Usa crossed the bridge that led to the park, it was a typical route 
for her.  She had a feeling that Usagi was at the park, there was a spot there 
that was remote and quiet, a place she often went when she wanted to be alone 
with her thoughts.
	On her way there, she passed by an abandoned warehouse.  It was a large 
structure that looked ancient and ready to fall apart, and it had a large and 
menacing wire fence surrounding it's perimeters as well.
	Normally, she would pass by it without a second thought, but today she 
felt a chill as she started to pass by it.  An unpleasant feeling that crept 
across her skin.
	"Let's walk faster, Luna-P,"  she said to the floating orb.
	They were nearly  pass the front of the warehouse when she heart a 
familiar voice.  One that intensified the feeling that crept along her skin.
	"The instructions are very simple, finish the construction plans now, or I 
will tear each and every appendage off your body starting with your-"
	Chibi-Usa peeked around the corner of the fence and into the warehouse 
grounds.  She could make out a red-haired figure snidely telling a youma to 
finish some sort of construction.
	She could feel her heart pounding in her head.
	"Rubeus," she whispered with fear.
	The crescent moon insignia on her forehead was glowing bright.
	
	"The instructions are very simple, finish the construction plans now, or I 
will tear each and every appendage off your body starting with your-"
	Rubeus stopped mid-sentence as he felt a familiar build up of energy.  He 
smiled grimly.
	"The little rabbit is here," he said to the youma.  "We should welcome 
her."
	He motioned to the youma and it disappeared silently.
	
	"We have to tell the senshi,"  Chibi-Usa said nervously to Luna-P.  
"They'll know what to do."
	She grabbed Luna-P and looked into it's visor.
	"Is anyone there?"  she called into the communicator.  "I need help."
	Rei's face appeared in the visor.
	"Rei-san!"  Chibi-Usa cried thankfully.  "You have to come here, the 
abandoned warehouse, Rubeus-"
	She was cut off as the youma appeared behind her and put it's hand over 
her mouth to silence her.
	The youma kicked Luna-P away and disappeared with Chibi-Usa.

	Rei stared at her communicator's screen where Chibi-Usa's face was, her 
face draining of color.  But she took command of herself and pressed an all too 
familiar button on the pad.
	"Go to the abandoned warehouse at once, Chibi-Usa is in danger."

	Usagi stared at her communicator, her face still listless.
	<Another battle,>  she thought dully.  <Another reminder of why my parents 
are divorcing..>
	She dropped her head into her hands.
	<I don't want to be a senshi, I just want to be left alone.>
	She looked at her communicator and stared at the ignore button.  It looked 
so harmless, just a small round button that would give her some peace.
	She surprised herself at how quickly she pressed the button.

	Rubeus looked at the frightened child in front of him.  The youma was 
holding her tight in it's arms which made Chibi-Usa's struggling futile.
	"You will be the one to deliver me from this living hell,"  he smiled 
while stroking her face and terrifying her with his tender touch.  "Once I give 
you to the Wiseman, I can go back to the future."
	Chibi-Usa moved her face away from his hand as if he burned her.  She 
stared at him with a look of hatred in her eyes.
	"Your mother certainly didn't teach you manners, did she?"  he said with a 
laugh.  "No matter, dirty looks or not, I'm still going to give you to the 
Wiseman."
	"Over my dead body!"  Tuxedo Mask's voice suddenly came.
	Rubeus turned around and saw the senshi and Tuxedo Mask standing there.
	Rubeus snapped his fingers and the youma gave the still struggling child 
to him.
	"That can be arranged," he said with a feral smile showing his teeth.
He snapped his fingers again and the youma charged the senshi.
	
	Time passed and Usagi was still underneath the tree.  At first, after she 
had pressed the button, she had felt so peaceful, but the guilt had not been 
slow to come.
	<What if->  she thought.  <Maybe I shouldn't have->
	Frustrated, she picked up a rock and tossed it.
	<Shimatta.  Why can't things in life be black or white?>
	She picked up another stone and tossed it.
	<You have no sense of honor,>  her mind whispered.  <No sense of duty.  
You abandon your friends when they need you.>
	Usagi snapped her head up, horror dawning on her.
	<What have I done?>
	She clutched the broach on her chest and opened her mouth to shout the 
transformation words.

	Sailor Moon arrived at the warehouse and saw that the senshi and Tuxedo 
Mask had the situation clearly in their favor.  She stood at the gates and saw 
the senshi combine their attacks to destroy the youma.  She heard Rubeus scream 
in frustration and in anger and saw the he was about to teleport out with Chibi-
Usa.  But Tuxedo Mask  flew past him and snatched Chibi-Usa out of Rubeus' 
careless grasp.  Rubeus screamed again and disappeared.
	<Maybe they don't need me,>  she thought, eyes trailing along the ground. 
<They do fine enough on their own.>
	"Sailor Moon!"  She heard Chibi-Usa call her name and she snapped her head 
up.  Up to the angry stares of the senshi and Tuxedo Mask.
	
	Usagi stood in a corner, by the pool of koi, staring at the gold and 
silver fish swimming by.  Her face was still empty and her eyes still dark and 
tired.  The others were in various spots on the secluded grounds of the shrine.  
After the battle they had            de-transformed and walked silently to the 
shrine to discuss what had happened.  The others noticed Usagi's appearance but 
hadn't bothered to ask if she was alright, they were silent.
	On the way there, Chibi-Usa had thought of telling the others that it 
wasn't Usagi's fault for showing up.  She had seen how angry the others were and 
had wanted to defend Usagi.  But Usagi had shaken her head when Chibi-Usa had 
opened her mouth.  She had been persuaded to have tea and biscuits with Rei's 
grandfather in the shrine.
	The group stood there in silence for a while.  Some were too angry to 
talk, some were too hurt and some were too shocked.
	"Do you even realize the amount of danger Chibi-Usa was in?"  Mamoru's 
voice suddenly shouted.
	Everyone looked up him and saw that he had a livid look in his eyes.
	Usagi continued to look down, her eyes filling with shame and guilt.
	<I deserve this, I deserted my duty.>
	"Do you have any idea how selfish you were?"
	Usagi's shame and guilt was suddenly replaced with anger.
	<Selfish?>
	"I can't believe that you would place your own welfare before Chibi-Usa 
and your senshi."
	<I can't believe I'm hearing this.>
	Usagi's anger started to run through her veins and she clenched her fists, 
digging her nails deep into her flesh.
	"Do you think this is all  just a game?"  Mamoru demanded harshly.  "Or 
some sort of function that you can  arrive at whenever it suits your needs?"
	Usagi turned around and looked at the face of her accuser.  She just 
glared at him, her blue eyes filling with angry tears.  She had never felt this 
angry in her life before.  She felt sick to her stomach with what was happening 
around her.  Her fists still clenched, she looked at her senshi.  They were 
quiet but she knew that they demanded an explanation as well.
	"Do you have anything to say at all?"  Mamoru's angry voice came again.  
"Some sort of reason that would justify your lack of responsibility and 
consideration?"
	Usagi snapped her head back towards Mamoru at his accusation.  Her eyes 
filled with a fury that scared Mamoru and the senshi.
	"Lack of responsibility and consideration?"  Usagi said quiet and slow.
	Her stomach started to throb with a dull sensation, something that was a 
regular occurrence these past few weeks.
	"You-"  She raised a clenched hand but bit back her remark.  Her face was 
contorted with anger.
	"What?"  Mamoru demanded.  He was frightened, but he refused to back down.  
"What am I?  Is this your revenge because I broke up with you?  Is this what 
this is all about?  Because I broke up with you?" 
Mamoru's voice was furious.
	Usagi gave him a look that was full of contempt.
	"You give yourself far too much credit Mamoru,"  she said in a tone that 
matched her expression.  "You believe that everything revolves around you."  
 	Usagi's voice continued in it's quiet and frighteningly serious tone.
"This is about because of my duties as a senshi, my parents hate each other and 
are getting a divorce."
	Mamoru and the senshi were hit with shock.
	"You don't know that,"  Mamoru said shaken.
	"Really?  I don't?"  Usagi's eyes filled with scorn.  "Do you know what 
it's like to listen to every fight your parent's have on why they can't control 
you because you keep sneaking off at night and going God knows where?  Do you 
have any idea what it's like to watch your parents fight each time they get 
called down to your school because you keep falling asleep in class because 
you're too tired from fighting?"
	With each question Mamoru and the senshi became filled with more and more 
shame.
	"Do you know what it's like knowing that you're the source of problems in 
your household?  Or to know what it's like to have a brother that can't even 
stand to look at you because you're the reason for the divorce and to know that 
he's right?"
	Tears fell down Usagi's cheek, but for her, they were the least of her 
worries.
	"So if I seem a little unenthusiastic about fighting, then excuse the shit 
out of me!"  Usagi shouted angrily.  Her hand went to her face, covering her 
mouth, trying to stop her crying, but her body shook from her silent sobs.
	The eyes of the senshi and Mamoru were wet, they felt Usagi's pain and 
they felt their own shame.  But they just stood there, unsure of how to act.
	Usagi looked at them, and the pressure soon became too much for her.  Her 
knees buckled and she was sitting on the ground crying.
	"I can't do this anymore,"  she cried softly to herself.  "I can't."
	"Usagi,"  Mamoru said softly, going towards her.  "I-"
	"No, please, just leave me alone,"  she whispered, her head in her hands.
	Mamoru stopped moving.
	"I-"  Mamoru tried again, walking toward her again.
	"GO!"  Usagi shouted.
	Mamoru stopped again.	
Rei gently came up behind Mamoru and laid a hand on his shoulder.
	"Mamoru-san, it would be best if you left.  Take Chibi-Usa and have her 
spend the night at your apartment, we will watch over Usagi,"  came a solemn 
voice.
	Mamoru looked at Usagi one last time.  Her head and shoulders were still 
hunched down and her sobs were still audible.  He clenched a fist then turned 
around to walk away.

	Rei shut the paper screen door behind her and walked down the hallway.  
Usagi was sleeping peacefully in the room she had just left after Rei had given 
her some herbal tea to soothe her.  After Mamoru had left with Chibi-Usa, Usagi 
had stopped crying but had just sat there on the ground, rocking herself.  
Makoto and Minako had led her to the room that Rei had made up and Ami had gone 
to call Usagi's mother to tell her that Usagi would be spending the night at the 
temple.
	Rei entered the kitchen where the other senshi were.  Makoto was standing 
over the stove and stirring a pot of drinking chocolate.  Minako and Ami sat at 
the table with empty cups in front of them not saying anything.  The tension in 
the room was obvious.
	Rei sat at the table and Makoto came over to pour the rich, brown liquid 
into the empty cups.  Makoto put the pot back onto the stove and sat down to 
join them.  No one said anything for a while, occasionally someone took a sip of 
her drink, but it was very quiet.
	"We're no better than Mamoru-san,"  Rei said at last.  "Usagi needed us 
and we weren't there for her, instead, we doubted her."
	Rei used Usagi's full name, she didn't feel worthy enough to use the 
'chan' suffix.  The others realized her choice of words and felt the same as 
well.
	Makoto stared at her cup in front of her, entirely engrossed with her 
chocolate.
	"All of us knew that something was not right with Usagi," she said, still 
staring at her drink.  "But we belittled her, saying that she was crying over a 
broken heart." 
	Ami's cup was raised to her lips, but she suddenly slammed it onto the 
table.  The sudden noise made the girls jump.
	"I, of all people, should've have known what was bothering Usagi," she 
said with disgust.  Her large, gentle eyes filled with tears.
	It took a moment, but the others realized that Ami was talking of her 
parent's own divorce.  Ami had never told them the exact details, but they knew 
that it had been an ugly, painful separation.
	"I saw Usagi everyday at school, I should've known,"  A few tears trickled 
down Ami's face.  "I saw how she behaved everyday.  I'm a horrible friend."
	Minako took a handkerchief out of her pocket and put it gently into Ami's 
hands.  After Ami wiped her tears, Minako took Ami's hands into her own.
	"Don't be selfish," she said with a trace of a smile on her face.  "We 
want some of the blame as well."
	Ami looked down at the floor.
	"But I should've have known,"  she whispered.
	"You're intelligent Ami-chan,"  Minako said.  "You always were, you always 
will be; but there will always be things that you don't know, this is one of 
those things."
	Minako stood up and looked at Makoto and Rei.
	"This is true for all of us," she said, her eyes filling with a great 
wisdom.  "There's no denying that this is very sad and unfortunate and yes, we 
knew that something was bothering Usagi.  But we tried, we are not blameless, 
but we did try.  We did confront Usagi, and short of forcing her to tell us the 
truth, we did tell her that we were worried about her."
	The three girls sat in their chairs, just listening to what Minako was 
saying.
	"I feel a lot of guilt, and I know that the three of you feel it as well, 
and we'd be fools to believe that it will simply go away.  But we honestly did 
try."
	She sat back down and proceeded to drink her chocolate.
	The others were silent for a moment, then Rei broke the silence.
	"Mina-chan, I think I speak for the others when I say this," she said with 
two-thirds of a smile.  "You are completely full of it."
	She raised her cup to Minako, and Makoto and Ami joined her.
	"And we thank you for it," Rei said sincerely.  "Arigato."
	Laughter could be heard from the kitchen.

	The next morning Usagi awoke to find herself sleeping in a spare room in 
Rei's temple.  She laid still on the futon and looked out the window.  The 
weather was cloudy and gray, matching her emotions.
	<I wonder if the others will still talk to me,>  she thought staring at 
the ceiling above her.  <Maybe they've already decided to dismiss me as leader 
of the senshi.>
	She sat up and stretched, wanting to leave the temple grounds before the 
others realized that she was awake.  Her body felt stiff and tired, and her eyes 
felt puffy and swollen.  As she got up to gather her belongings, the screen door 
slid open and Rei walked in with a pot of tea and two tea cups on a tray.
	"Good morning, Usagi,"  Rei said as she went to place the tray on a nearby 
table.
	"Good morning, Rei,"  Usagi quietly greeted back.  She noticed that Rei's 
manner was uncertain and distraught.
	<She's probably the one to tell me the news,>  Usagi thought as she 
continued to pack her belongings.  <At least she's polite enough not to smile 
about it.>
	Rei sat down and poured the tea.  She looked up to Usagi and motioned for 
her to sit down.
	"Will you not have some tea?"
	Usagi sat down and uncertainly picked up a tea cup.  The two drank the tea 
and sat in silence.
	Rei was the first to put her cup back onto the table and speak.
	"Usagi, you have every right to be angry at us," she started.  Usagi 
looked at her,   surprise highlighting her dull eyes.  "We were wrong to doubt 
you."
	"Rei, I-"  Usagi stammered.
	"Usagi," Rei said as she took Usagi's hand into hers.  "Please forgive us, 
we have to have your forgiveness."
	"There's nothing to forgive," Usagi said shaking her head.  "I should be 
asking forgiveness from the senshi." 
	"For what?"  Rei asked astonished.  "What would the senshi need to forgive 
you for?  We were the ones who wronged you."
	"Please forgive me for being such a failure as leader of the senshi,"  
Usagi said desperately as she took Rei's hands into her own.
	"Usagi-"
	"Please, Rei-chan," Usagi pleaded.  "I am a joke as leader.  I have no 
skills, no talents, I have nothing.  You heard what Mamoru said the other night, 
my irresponsibility nearly killed Chibi-Usa.  I have nothing to offer to even be 
a member of the senshi."
	Rei tried to choke back her tears as she heard Usagi degrade herself.
	"Usagi, what has happened to you?"  she whispered, a tear slipping down 
her cheek.  "Why do you talk about yourself this way?"
	Usagi looked at her and she felt a wetness trail down her own cheek.  She 
felt another wet trail, and then another.  She looked down at the table and 
started to quietly cry.  All of her jumbled emotions came out and she still felt 
suffocated.
	She felt a hand gently stroking her head and heard a gentle voice telling 
her to cry.
	"I don't know what has happened to me,"  Usagi said through her tears.  
"Mamoru, my parents, everything has been my fault.  All that I know is that I 
ruin everything, I poison people."
	"Don't say that!"  Rei said vehemently.  "You are not poison, you are a 
good and caring person."
	 "How can I be such a person?"  Usagi demanded bitterly.  "Look at 
everything that has happened.  I'm worthless."
	She felt Rei come to her side of the table and she put her head on Rei's 
lap as she continued crying.  
	"Please don't ever say those words again, Usagi-chan,"  Rei said, tears 
still falling down her cheeks.  "You are the kindest human being I have ever 
met, that any of the senshi have met."
	Usagi cried into Rei's lap, the suffocating feeling still in her chest.
	"I feel this great pressure on my chest," she cried softly.  "I feel like 
I can't breathe." 

	It was evening and Mamoru sat at his kitchen table, with a cup of 
untouched coffee in his hand.  He stared at the clock on the wall in front of 
him.  He felt somewhat soothed by the staccato rhythm the clock produced.  He 
had been like this for the past hour, just sitting and staring. He had dropped 
Chibi-Usa off at the Tsukino home earlier and had been told by Usagi's mother 
that Usagi was still at the temple when he had asked for her. He had spent the 
day with Chibi-Usa; they had gone to the movie theatres, the park, everywhere 
imaginable.  But Chibi-Usa had been quite silent with him for the entire day, 
believing that he had been wrong the night before to yell at Usagi.
	He knew she was right.
	<Usagi was right, I did believe everything happened because she was pining 
over me,>  he thought stonily.  <I am such an arrogant fool.>
	He glanced at his coffee and noticed it had gone cold.  He stood up and 
went to the sink to empty the cup and automatically poured another cup.  He sat 
down at the table and let his coffee go untouched again.
	<She probably hates you now,> a harsh voice inside his head said.  <She 
hates you for the uncaring and selfish person you've become.>
	He stared at the clock again, becoming lost to the hypnotic ticking.
	<Go to her,> a new voice urged.  <Explain to her, there's always a 
chance.>
	He looked at his coffee again.
	<Yes, explain to her that you abandoned her because of some sleepless 
nights and bad dreams.  Then tell her how sorry you are for telling her that 
she's a horrible leader,> the first voice laughed.  <She'll fall in love with 
you all over again.>
	Mamoru was torn between the emotions in his heads and sat there unmoving, 
not sure of which move to make.
	<She'll understand,> the kinder voice urged still.  <But you have to go to 
her first.>
	He clenched his fists as the voices became more insistent and stronger.
	<After all that has happened?> the unpleasant voice said.  <She'll never 
go near you again.>
	
	Usagi  rolled over onto her side on top of the futon and started tracing a 
pattern on the covers.  After she had finished crying, Rei had left the room so 
that she could be alone for a while.  That had been this morning, it was now 
dusk and storm clouds were gathering outside.  She suspected that the others had 
long left for home and that Rei was outside doing chores on the temple grounds.
	<Why have I become like this?>  she asked herself silently.  <I can't 
remember being happy for the longest time.>
	She had been thinking about this for the entire day.  She had asked 
herself what had driven her to turn on herself like she had done for the past 
while.
	She knew the answer, but she hated it, she didn't want it to be true.
	<Why do you deny it?> a voice cried out.  <You know the answer and the 
truth that it is, why do you refuse to embrace it?>
	Tears filled Usagi's aching eyes again, she didn't want to admit to the 
truth.
	<I don't want to believe that Mamoru is bad for me,> her mind softly said.  
<I can't.>
	<You have to, a thousand years of love means nothing if has reduced you to 
such self-despisement,>  the voice begged.  <Look at what he has filled you 
with.>
	"I can't,"  Usagi whispered out loud.  "I can't."
	She kept repeating the words and her voice grew louder as she repeated 
each word until she made a shriek of fury and grief.  She sat still, and the 
silence seemed to echo around her.
	She heard rapid footsteps come towards her room and soon the screen door 
opened to reveal the other senshi.  Some had fear in their eyes, some had 
sadness, but they all had concern and compassion.
	They looked at Usagi who had wrapped herself into her knees and they 
softly started to weep.  They gently went to her and embraced her shaking body.
	"Why do you do this to yourself?" Minako whispered to Usagi.  "Why do you 
put yourself through this pain?"
	Usagi didn't answer, she just squeezed her eyes shut and burrowed her head 
into Minako's arm.
	"He's not worth this, Usa-chan," Minako whispered again.  "For your own 
sake, don't think about him."
		All thoughts about the fight from the day before were wordlessly 
forgiven and each senshi silently gave Usagi their own strength.
	
	Usagi stood on the bridge over the trickling stream.  The soft sound of 
the moving water was somewhat soothing.  She looked up to the dark, gray-black 
night and saw that the moon and stars were covered by dark billowy clouds.  She 
could sense a rainstorm about to come.
	She was on her way home, and after her reconcile with her senshi she felt 
stronger.  But she didn't feel strong enough yet to get rid of her suffocating 
sense that she had had a hand in her family's affairs.
She heard soft footsteps approaching and without turning she knew who the 
footsteps belonged to.  The footsteps stopped beside her and stood next to her.
	"It's going to rain soon,"  Mamoru's soft voice came.  "You should go 
inside."
	Usagi didn't move.  But somewhere in her mind a contented sigh came.  How 
she had longed so badly to hear a caring word from Mamoru's lips.  But then she 
remembered what  a great role Mamoru had in her self-destruction and she didn't 
move.
	"I want to be in the rain,"  she said, still looking at the sky in front 
of her.  "I want to be cleansed."
	Mamoru stared at her.  He looked at her thin form and her pale face, her 
eyes blank and unfocused.
	"What do you mean?"  he whispered, but it sounded like a demand.  
"Everything that has happened has not been your fault.  You cannot blame 
yourself for anything."
	Usagi turned to look at him.  Her eyes held no emotion, no will at all.
	"I can,"  she said, her voice as void as her eyes.  "Because it's true.  
Do you know how much I hate myself?  How much self-loathing I have?"
	Mamoru couldn't say anything at all, he could just looked at her.
	"I hate myself for being the cause of pain for my family and friends.  I 
hate myself for my parent's divorce.  I hate myself for hurting everyone I truly 
care about."
	She looked directly into Mamoru's eyes.  He could see straight into her 
heart, and he could see her pain with such clarity that it was terrifying.
	"But most of all, I hate myself for letting you fill me with such hatred."
	Mamoru sucked in a sharp breath.
	"You blame me?"  his eyes filling.  He could've accepted that she hated 
him, but for him to be the sole source for her self-hatred done cut him deeply.
	She continued speaking and her voice took on an ethereal quality.	
	"There was a time when I would've done anything for a kind word from you,"  
there was a sad but content smile on her face.
	"Then you were gone,"  the smile faded and was replaced with an expression 
of bitterness.  "You left me so quickly that I wondered what I did to drive you 
away.  I became filled with doubt and anger."
	Then her eyes flashed with something, anger or resentment, maybe both.
	"Look at me Mamoru!"  she shouted at him.  "Look at me.  I have no self-
respect or self-dignity anymore!"
	Her eyes intensified  with raw emotion.  Small drops of rain started to 
fall.
	"Do you know how much I long for death?  For silence?  For peace?"  
continuing to shout at him and still staring into his eyes.  The rain started to 
get heavier.
	"But I can't, I can't,"  she said, trying to swallow the lump in her 
throat.    Her voice was forcibly calm.  "I'm Sailor Moon."
	"Usagi," he said, starting towards her, his hand outreached.
	She  jerkily moved away from him, refusing to let him touch her.  She 
closed her eyes briefly then looked at him with her haunted eyes.  She opened 
her mouth to speak.  But she found that she had trouble forming her words.
	Mamoru gently reached towards her again.  But this time she let him touch 
her arm.
	"Usagi," he said softly, not knowing what else to say.
	Usagi looked at him, struggling to compose herself.  She opened her mouth 
again, and this time the words came out of her mouth.  But they were a contrast 
to her struggling emotions, her words flowed from her smoothly and simply.
	"I don't want to see you anymore Mamoru, you make me feel bad about 
myself."
	Mamoru stared at her, tears falling down his cheeks and mingling with the 
rain.  He looked at what he had done, her words were so true that it hurt him.  
He looked to the ground with a look of disbelief.  He looked at her face again, 
her dull eyes looking back at him.  He collapsed to his knees and pressed his 
face to her knees.  The rain fell in a steady pattern, soaking them both.
	"Usagi, forgive me.  I'm so sorry,"  he whispered.  "I love you, I've 
always loved you."
	Usagi looked down, her eyes had a confused and bewildered expression in 
them.
	"I had these dreams, I had to stay away from you."
	Usagi looked ahead of her, her eyes still full of confusion.  As she heard 
him explain the dreams, she felt the rain on her face, trailing down her cheek.
	"I've always loved you," she heard him softly cry again.
	<He loves me,>  she realized softly, her eyes became content.
	Usagi knelt down, face to face to Mamoru.  He looked at her and gasped.
	"Your tears."
	<I thought I had no more tears,>  then she caught one in her hand and saw 
a dark crimson tear mixed with rain.  <I'm crying blood.>
	But somehow, it didn't frighten her.
	Usagi looked up to Mamoru staring at her intently.  Usagi said nothing but 
pressed her forehead to his and took his hands into hers.
	"Usako,"  Mamoru whispered, closing his eyes.
	"Aishiteru, Mamo-chan,"  she said softly.  "I always will,"
	Mamoru opened his eyes to look at her.  Light entered his face.
	"Can we-"  his voice hopeful.
	Usagi continued looking into his face, while stinging red tears fell.
	"Too much has happened.  We can't see each other anymore."
	Mamoru shook his head.
	"We love each other, nothing else matters."
	It was Usagi's turn to shake her head.
	"We can't," it was barely audible.
	"But the past, the future..."  Mamoru said desperately.
	"They don't matter anymore."
	"Then all that should matter is that we love each other."
	Usagi put her hand on his cheek.  He leaned into it and placed his hand on 
top of hers.  It was reminiscent of a time once upon the moon.
	"I love you Mamo-chan, remember that,"  she whispered while leaning 
forward.  
	Their lips met in a soft but bittersweet kiss.  But when they parted, 
Usagi put her forehead to Mamoru's and looked down to the ground.
	"But we can't see each other anymore."
	Mamoru tried to look in her eyes, but she refused to meet his gaze.  
	"Usako..."
	She gently raised her head and looked at him. His face had a pleading 
look.
	Usagi caressed his face one last time and looked into his eyes.  She saw 
the love and aching in them.
	"I love you, Usako,"  he whimpered, burying his head into her shoulder.
	"I love you, Mamo-chan.  And I know that one day we'll be together again,"  
she whispered gently.  "But right now, we can't be together."
	She gently stood up and walked away, eyes still crying.
	Mamoru stood up but he didn't run after her.  But he had to do what his 
heart told him to do.
	"Usako!  Aishiteru! I'll never stop loving you!"  he cried after her.  She 
continued walking. "It's not over, it'll never be over."
	He collapsed back to the ground.
	The rain continued falling from the sky onto the both of them.

					The End

	Thank you for reading.  As always, questions and comments are welcomed at 
			black_lady_@hotmail.com or black_lady_@iname.com
	Thanks again!
	
	Black Lady