When he woke up this morning, Mamoru was in a terrible mood. He stayed up almost all night to finish one of his important assignments after saving his favourite heroine from an ugly youma that almost ripped her head off… and he hurt his leg when he save her in the nick-of-time.

The only hours of sleep he had were haunted by the mysterious princess and her repetitive request. If it wasn't for his important math exam, he would have stayed in his bed all day. But he did not; he got up, took his thing and went to school. Every thing was so annoying: the little birds, the sun hurting his eyes, the workers pressing themselves to work, a wailing girl running because she was late…

His mind didn't click at the right time. It wouldn't even have clicked if it wasn't from the student's apologies.

"GOMEN NASAI SIR! I was late and wasn't looking and- oh… it's you, Mamoru.

"Hum?"

Then, he noticed Usagi, trying to get up. 'Just what I needed', he thought darkly.

"I said, I'm sorry, Mamoru-baka. But what the hell are you doing, in the middle of the sidewalk, frowning on… little birds??? Why are you angry over little birds?!

"You're just like them. Won't shut up", Mamoru dropped with hatred.

"OH! YOU JERK!!

"Now you're being original, Odango Atama!"

And he forced himself to roll his eyes. And the teenage girl would have quickly replied, but she saw just how tired he looked. Like if he was about to drop dead. Maybe she should give him a trick that she used, being Sailor Moon and fighting late every night?

She shivered. She really needed to get rid of evil before she was in college! Mamoru surely didn't do anything else then study and get prepared for exams- he was no superhero. She giggled, imagining her worst enemy in her own Sailor fuku, making ridiculous speeches and throwing a tiara. But suddenly, an image of him, in a tuxedo, making cheesy speeches and throwing roses popped in her head. Not nearly as funny. She shivered again.

"Oi, Odango! Care to tell me what you're thinking about?

"You… being Tuxedo Kamen."

He choked out. How did she figure that out?? Could she possibly be smarter than he thought she was? Mamoru stared down at her. No. She didn't know. He wouldn't allow her to know. Not her, of all people.

"Geez, you're such an airhead. Always spacing out, creating things in your little mind. Guess that's why you fail every simple test. I wonder how your parents can deal with the failure you are… bet they're regretting the choice to keep you! You have waste so much of their time- and of everyone else's time around you. Such a waste of life you are."

Usagi grew paler as every word he said stung into her like thousand of needles through her heart. Why was he being so mean to her? They always bickered, but never had he been so cruel. Every word he said hurt her like hell. Every word he said made her want to run away. Every word he said made her want to die. Every word he said… was so true in her mind.

When he finished, the dark hair guy looked at the little blond before him. Her face was colorless, except for her big sky eyes, reflecting all the pain she had in her. When he realized that he caused it, and on purpose, it was too late.

A tear gently broke her face, and she looked up at him. When their eyes met, she started to cry everything she had.

"How…can you…" She had trouble breathing. She wanted to be everywhere but under the cold, dark blue gaze her tormenter gave her.

"Oh my God… I'm sorry, Odang-", he started, but was so cut off by a high-pitched yell.

"NO! No, you're not!!! Don't give me that "I didn't mean it", 'cause you sure as hell did! If my parents and friends think that way, why wouldn't you, my worst nightmare, think it?"

She was shaking furiously. She looked like she was about to murder him. And he couldn't blame her for it.

"AND YOU KNOW WHAT!?" Her face fell. She looked lifeless again. "You're right… you're absolutely right… no matter how hard I try, I'll never be good enough. And you know what else? I'm sick of trying…"

Mamoru gasped.

No.

There were things that just couldn't happen.

Santa Claus could not exist. Nobody would ever find a pot-of-gold at the end of a rainbow. Animals would never talk. He would never see his parents again. The sun would never turn dark. The snow would never fall in July.

And Usagi Tsukino couldn't give up.

But yet, she did.

Without another word, the usually happiest girl in Japan left the usually calmest, unshakable man in the maybe whole world standing totally stunned, hating himself for how horrible he had been. He accomplished the impossible. He took away the shine of Usagi.

And while the guilty guy stood still, the broken girl ran with everything she had, as fast as her trembling legs could carry her. But not fast enough to leave the recent memories behind. She couldn't focus, but it was ok because she knew her way so well. She didn't even tripped; it was like if an angel carried her to a safest place.

A place filled with laugh, games, chocolate milkshakes and most of all… a place where she could find an attentive ear and a friendly hug.

The arcade where Motoki worked.

Usagi's favourite place in the world.