~*~**~***~****~*****~******~*******~******~*****~****~***~**~*~
About 1 AM, Mamoru’s phone rang. He eased out from under Usagi and walked to
the kitchen.
*Ring*
*Ring*
"All right! I’m coming!" he growled angrily and picked up the phone. "Hello?" he
answered groggily.
"Oh, Mamoru...this is Shingo.." Shingo’s voice was filled with fear and
sadness...
" Dad was in wreck and he’s in the emergency room...could you drive Usagi over?
Please?" Shingo asked worriedly.
"Of course Shingo! I’ll be right there!" Mamoru said and hastily hung up the
phone. He ran in his room and grabbed his keys and his jacket.
"Mamo-chan? What’s wrong? Was that Shi-chan?" she asked. Mamoru immediately
wrapped Usagi in his arms.
"Yes Usako, it was....your dad was in a car accident and is in the hospital..."
he said seeing the tears well up in the little blonde’s eyes. She tried to
squeak out a word, but all that came out was sobs. Mamoru just handed her her
now dry dress and said " Just put your dress on Usa, and we’ll go see him..."
she nodded and walked in the bathroom and when she came out they left for the
hospital.
~*~**~***~****~*****~******~*******~******~*****~****~***~**~*~
Usagi walked into the hospital room and gripped Mamoru’s hand harder as she held
back the tears. Mamoru gave her an assuring squeeze. She was so scared, was it
her fault her dad was like this? If she hadn’t fought with him, he wouldn’t be
hooked up to all these machines, would he? She walked over to a chair beside the
bed and sat down. She slowly picked up his hand.
"Oh daddy...I’m sorry..it’s all my fault you are like this...if I hadn’t..." she
whispered as the tears escaped her eyes and she laid her head on the bed. "Don’t
leave me daddy....you have to stay...you have to walk me down the aisle....you
have to forgive me....please??" she whispered and felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Oh Mamo-chan....if I hadn’t of gotten in a fight with him, this wouldn’t have
ever happened!" she cried.
"Shh Usa, all we can do now is hope and wait..." he whispered as he sat in a
hospital chair and patted his lap. She nodded and sat on his lap, wrapping her
arms around his neck.
"I’m sorry I dragged you hear Mamo-chan, I know this is hard for you..." she
whispered hoarsely.
"No, Usa, I want to be here because I know I am of some comfort to you. Now just
close your eyes and sleep..." he said, gingerly running his fingers through her
hair. She nodded and was asleep before her head even landed on Mamoru’s chest.
Mamoru laughed slightly and then looked at the form in the bed.
“I’m sorry sir...but I can’t give up Usa...she’s all I have... I know you don’t
approve
of me, but I always just wanted to find someone to love me for me...and Usako
did that.
She showed me something I have never known before... and when I see her family,
I know
where she recieves all that compassion. Please, sir, don’t take her away from
me. It would
be like cutting the life line of a dying man. She is my life, my soul. Please
get better...she
needs you as much as I need her.” He said softly and a closed his eyes, falling
asleep with
Usagi. Ikuko and Shingo then walked in and took the two other chairs in the
room. Ikuko
sighed at the two young lovers, remembering herself and Kenji at that age, and
wished her
husband could see them like she did. Shingo, however, thought it was gross, but
was glad
Mamoru loved his sister so much and knew he
would take good care of her.
~*~**~***~****~*****~******~*******~******~*****~****~***~**~*~
Kenji was struggling to live. He had to tell Usagi that he wanted them to have
his blessing. He was about to turn around and go back to the apartment, when he
was hit dead-on by a pick-up truck. It ended in a three car wreck because the
speeding car
behind him couldn’t stop in time. His eyes would not open, they were clenched
shut and he did not have the strength to open them, but hearing a voice, he
stopped to
listen. Who was that? Chiba-san? He listened and felt horrible as he heard
Mamoru confess
how he really felt about Usagi. Usagi, she loved this man and he had no right to
stand in
the way of that. Thinking of his little girl made him try once more. This time,
he succeeded
and saw a sight that amazed him beyond his years. He saw his little girl asleep
by the man
she loved and he sighed. * How foolish I’ve been!* he thought. * Not to see that
Usagi is
so happy!* Just then, Mamoru awoke to find Kenji looking at them warmly. He
smiled
back and nudged Usagi. "Usa...wake up..." he whispered to her. She blinked
several times before she noticed Mamoru motioning to the bed. She looked up and
ran over to her father’s side.
"Oh Daddy! I’m so sorry!" she cried and clutched his hand.
"Shh, pumpkin...I want you to know that I’m going away soon....." he whispered.
"But daddy, you can’t leave me!" she begged.
"It’s not up to me, Pumpkin, but this is...I want to tell you something about
that fiancé of yours!" he said sternly. Usagi’s eyes watered, fearing her
father would die hating Mamoru. "I want you two to have my blessing..." he said
warmly. She smiled at him and gently hugged his neck. "Thank-you daddy...thank-
you!" Usagi then awoke her mother and brother, and let them say there good byes
to her father. She knew he was going to a better place now and was glad he had
forgiven her. Before taking his last breath, Kenji Tsukino said, "Take care of
her son...I would like you to remember me as your father....goodbye my family.."
and he closed his eyes and fell into a peaceful sleep.
~*~**~***~****~*****~******~*******~******~*****~****~***~**~*~
It was one year after his death, and Ikuko was still never quite the same. She
was always quiet and never really paid much attention to the outside world.
Shingo grew up quickly that year, and honorably became the man of the house.
Usagi still lived with her mom and brother in Japan and Mamoru was arriving back
home FOR GOOD that next week. What was Usagi to do? Since her mother had lost
her job, Usagi has gotten one to support her mother. But what about her job?
Mamoru would never approve? How was she going to tell Mamoru?
~*~**~***~****~*****~******~*******~******~*****~****~***~**~*~
Mamoru arrived at the airport gate, and could not see Usagi any where. He then
spotted a familiar face and walked over to her.
"Tenoh Haruka ?!? Long time no see, ne?!"
"Ah, Mamoru-san! There you are! Usagi-chan sent me to get you....it seems she
has to work late tonight..."
"Oh...hey Haruka-san? Where does she work anyway?"
"I haven’t the slightest, she has kind of been avoiding me and Michi-chan
whenever she sees us..."
"I know the feeling...when I call her, she is always gone or out and never
returns my calls! It’s like she’s afraid to talk to me!"
"Well, you’ll have to ask her then! I’ll drive you to your place...Let’s go!"
~*~**~***~****~*****~******~*******~******~*****~****~***~**~*~
Later that night...
"Well fine Haruka! If you feel that way then get out!" Michiru yells angrily at
the blond.
"Fine Michiru! I will!" and with that Haruka stormed out of the apartment.
Haruka got herself drunk and made her way to the local ‘club’. She sat down
inside and ordered a beer. She lazily drank it and turned around to see who
happened to be ‘dancing’ on stage. When she did, she spit beer all over the
floor. * Oh shit!* she thought * Usagi?*
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
*Ring*
*Ring*
Mamoru picked up the phone.
"Moshi Moshi?" he answered.
"Hey Mamoru-san! It’s Haruka!"
"Oh Haruka-san! To what do I owe the pleasure of this call? It’s not about Usa
is
it? She isn’t in trouble is she?" Mamoru asked nervously.
"No she’s fine, but it is about her...I know why she is avoiding you..."
"Why? She isn’t cheating on me...is she?" Mamoru yelled.
"No, I know where her job is..."
"Well come on Haruka! SPIT IT OUT!" Mamoru yelled.
"Oh I can’t tell you, you’ll have to see for yourself....meet me at McDonalds in
15 minutes and I’ll take you..."
*~*~*17 minutes later in Haruka’s car*~*~*
"Okay Haru-chan! Where is she? What job could be so bad that she is avoiding
me?"
"Trust me Mamoru-san! I am ashamed I ever went there in the first place! And if
you tell Michi-chan, I’ll hurt you!"
"Okay I won’t! Now where is she?"
"Right here.." Haruka said and pointed to to the flashing neon lights only
meters away from where the had just gotten out of the car. They read ‘Night
Stars’.
Mamoru gasped. Everyone in town knew this was a strip club.
"Haruka-san!!! You got to be kidding!!! My Usa works here?!?!?" he screamed.
Just
then, a familiar wail could be heard heard, along with the sound of high-heels
clicking against the pavement.
"Follow her! I’ll be right behind you in the car! Go On!!!" she yelled as
Mamoru ran down the street.
"Usako wait!!!!" he cried, but she didn’t stop....but knowing Usagi, she tripped
(especially because she was in high-heels!) Mamoru ran up to her and embraced
her tightly in his arms. "Are you okay baby? Huh?" he whispered into her ear and
kissed her forehead. "Are you?"
"Yes, Mamoru..." he flinched, she hadn’t called him Mamoru since they started
dating. "Now I got to get home, it’s late!" she said getting up and started
limping away.
"Oh no you don’t! You have some explaining to do!!" He said firmly, pinning her
arms to her side and making her face him.
"Chiba Mamoru!! I do not have to explain myself to you or anyone else!!!"
"Oh yes you do!" a voice said behind her.
"Haruka!?! I don’t have to explain to you either!"
"Yes, Usagi, you do! I am your protector and I am sure I speak for Mamoru and
all the girls when I say this, You owe us all an explanation!!" Usagi just
started sobbing. She collapsed into Mamoru’s arms and soaked his shirt.
"I’m so sorry!!!" she wailed.
"Shh, Usa, not here, we are going to my place..." He said as he led her to
Haruka’s car. Usagi cried all the way to McDonalds and was so weak that Mamoru
had to carry her to his car.
"Haruka-san, get ALL the girl’s together, even the inners and Setsuna, and meet
me at my
place,
okay?"
"Whatever you say Mamoru, we’ll be there in two or three hours!” she said as she
got into her car and drove off.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Mamoru carried a now sleeping Usagi to his apartment. He laid her on his couch
and knelt beside her. Her eyes fluttered open as he cupped her face in his
hands. "Oh baby...what made you take that job? Was it me? Was it the girls?
Huh?"
"Oh Mamo-chan! It wasn’t you or the girls....it was me and my stupid self..."
"Usako, baby? What happened? What are you talking about?"
"I needed the money and the job paid well..."
“But WHY did you need the money?"
"Well , mama got cancer, Mamo-chan! She is going to die without an a operation
and the money daddy left us won’t cover it! I thought it was the only way!!!"
she wailed
and burst into tears. She was mad at herself for taking the job, but more so for
lying to
Mamoru. She knew she should tell Mamoru about her mother’s REAL illness, but she
couldn’t bring herself to do it because it involved HER too.
"It wasn’t the only way! What about me? I ‘d give away my whole trust fund for
you!" He told her and wrapped his arms gently around her.
"No Mamo-chan! I don’t want your money!"
"Yes Usa! I want to marry you and spend my life with you! The money is yours
whenever you need it!! I want you to have it! I want t your mother to have it
because she is the mother I never had and I want her to get well just as bad!"
He said looking into Usagi’s eyes. "Please take it Usa!" he begged. She smiled
at him and nodded.
"Thank you Mamo-chan! I’m sorry...Thank-you...thank-you!" she said.
"No thank-you, Usa, for giving me the chance..." he said and hugged her, kissing
the top of her head. " Why don’t you go lay on the bed and rest?" He asked
suggestively. She nodded and stood up, but fell down quickly in pain.
"OWWWWWW!!!!!" she yelled.
"Usako? What is it?"
"My ankle! I must have hurt it when I fell!" she whimpered.
"Here, let me carry you to the bed and I’ll get some ice..." he said and picked
Usagi up carefully. Usagi wrapped her arms around his neck and looked into his
eyes.
"Thank-you Mamo-chan..." she said as he slowly laid her on the bed. "I love
you.." she whispered.
"I love you too Usako, baby.." he replied back huskily and closed the gap
between
there faces. She indulged in the moment, but broke away.
"Mamo-chan...I’ve been thinking...we need to set a wedding date..." she
whispered.
"I was waiting until you said something, how about September 14?"
he asked. Usagi’s eyes grew wider.
"You remembered!" she giggled with joy!
"Of course! That’s the day we were going to get married in the Silver
Millennium, what do you say?"
"I say....of course! Now...where were we?" she giggled and pulled Mamoru closer
to her.
~*~**~***~****~*****~******~*******~******~*****~****~***~**~*~
Well That's part B of my revision of Ch ONe.
See ya
Sailor Peace
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