Crash and Burn

Chapter 26: One Moment in Time

Mamoru was on top of me, his fist slamming my face repeatedly. His eyes were as light as day.

"NO!" I screamed, "Mamoru, it's me! It's Usagi!" I hurriedly turned my body back to normal, becoming Tsukino Usagi again.

Only for my now-correct face to meet his fist. I swore rudely, pushing him off, "For God's sake!" I snapped at him as he scrambled to his feet, looking even worse than he had last time I had seen him- but still fierce, and ready to give my body a pounding.

"You think your lies will trick me again, Torii?" he spat

"Look," I groaned, "I'm here to-OW!"

He'd hit me again.

"I'M USAGI!" I yelled furiously, "I'd hit you right back, if you didn't already look so messed up, Mamoru" I staggered over to him, holding my nose, "I swear, it's me. I'm here to spring you from this prison. So are you coming, or are you just going to pound on me all day?"

My presence seemed to suddenly awaken him; he stared deeply into my eyes and sharply gasped, "Gods, it is you! Why the hell did you appear as Diamond, Usako? I'm sure you didn't think I would greet him nicely with a face like that!"

Not wanting to point out that the face would get a nice response from most of the girls at our school, I scowled, "I needed to, it's not like I walk around pretending to be Diamond to get laughs"

He then realized the gravity of what my being here meant, "Usagi…" he whispered in wonder, "Are you telling me that…that you found a way to…?"

"Yes" I said, finally sure that my nose wouldn't be bleeding any time soon. "You're free to leave, Mamoru"

He didn't need to be told again. He grabbed my hand tightly and pulled me through the open door. The second he'd crossed the threshold, his wounds faded instantly. I gasped in delight and he started laughing, not believing it himself.

"I'm free" he said to me, amazed, "You did it, Usagi!"

I slid my broach into the pocket of Kevin's jeans, which were almost sliding off of me and then threw my arms around his neck, kissing him with long missing passion. He responded with such ardor that I almost couldn't stand the joy of finally being able to hold him again. His lips still encasing my own, I teleported the both of us back to the human world. I gripped him closer to me as his lips assailed my throat happily.

"Usagi" he said avidly, "God, I've missed you so much"

"I know," I moaned.

Still pressed against me, obsessed with maintaining close contact after so long of none, he backed me to the guys' kitchen table. His hand swiped all the unnecessary items off the table and they crashed messily to the floor. His hands slid to my waist, guiding me onto the table where he crawled over me, kissing me hungrily. My hands slid urgently to his chest, which was missing a shirt from long ago and his hands, in response, slid under Kevin's shirt. I moaned his name with all the love I could possibly convey, making his hold of me tighten possessively.

"DEAR LORD-!" came a cry from beyond my vision, and Mamoru toppled off of me in surprise.

The entrance to the kitchen was blocked by an extremely pale Mr. Shaw. He was blinking shockingly at us and then realizing what was going on, hurriedly said an apology and raced away.

My cheeks aflame, I jumped down from the table and turned to Mamoru. He was lying on the floor…laughing hysterically.

"MAMORU!" I yelled, aghast at him laughing like that. That had been so embarrassing, how could he laugh about it?

"What?" he gasped, "That was hilarious, I mean, your face- oh god!"

"Mr. Shaw!" I yelled, leaving Mamoru on the floor after a glare, I chased after him. I heard Mamoru following me.

I nearly slammed into Tom who was coming out of the entertainment room. He looked at my flushed face, then to Mamoru and then to Mr. Shaw's paled face, and rose his hands, "I do not want to know"

"It was nothing!" I cried, "Just a little- we haven't seen each other in a while, okay?!"

Mr. Shaw's face was slowly returning to color and Sapphire was laughing in front of the TV.

I shot him a glare. Mamoru stepped next to me, a clearly confused look on his face.

"Uh…hi" he said, blinking at Mr. Shaw, "Sorry about…um…that"

Mr. Shaw nodded, "I heard crashes…thought maybe…"

"Someone was coming to kill us" Sapphire finished

Mamoru turned to look at him.

"Oh yeah, Mamoru, meet Sapphire, the other crystal holder in the Torii family, but thankfully on my side. Nick's dad, and Jay's dad are these two, and all are currently employed to die by my side"

"Thomas Parker, I hear you were a close friend of Nick's" Tom said, extending a hand to Mamoru.

Mamoru stared at it, perplexed. Maybe he had heard that Mr. Parker hadn't exactly been the nicest of fathers to Nick. Nevertheless, he took the hand and shook it, "Chiba Mamoru, nice to meet you, Mr. Parker"

"Please, call me Tom"

"Victor Shaw, nice to meet you, son" Mr. Shaw said, also extending his hand. Mamoru took it without a hesitation this time.

Sapphire joined us, "Sapphire Torii, I hope the stuff that my brother did wasn't too bad"

"Not at all," Mamoru said amicably, barely blinking at the scars on Sapphire's hand, "I gave some of my own whenever I could"

"Where're Ayame and Mr. Morrison?" I asked, turning to Tom

"Sleeping, they got home a little while ago"

"Any change with them?" I asked quietly

Mr. Shaw sighed, "Drake and Motoki are still in a coma, but I hear that Naru's temperature cooled slightly"

"How much is slightly?"

"A few degrees, nothing major, but the doctors have her stabilized"

"…Motoki?" Mamoru asked quietly

"Last night…" Tom said, sparing me the explanation, "Diamond gave Naru some sort of disease, caused a car crash that put Motoki and Drake, who is Kevin's father, in serious condition. Thankfully, Usagi managed to get me, and Naru out fast enough"

"Barely," I mumbled. I sat down on the sofa.

"Oh, Usagi," Sapphire said, holding out my phone, "Your mom called about a few dozen times"

"A few dozen…" I sighed.
It was currently almost 6 in the evening and she must have gotten worried at my lack of contact.

After calling and explaining that Mamoru had been found, she sounded excited for me and told me to spend as much time as I wanted with him. Damn, it was sort of awesome that she was on my side again.

"Okay," I said, hanging up, the others were staring blankly at the TV, "We have a lot to do, and not enough time to do it. Firstly, we need to do all we can to fix Naru, then find Motoki and Mr. Ford- who weirdly, are both missing their soul, or essence, or whatever-" Mamoru's, Mr. Shaw's, and Tom's faces rumpled in worry, but I wasn't done with my list. "Then, I've gotta find a way to stop Diamond, before he, erm, 'stops' me. And in between all of that, I have to destroy a ruthless entity of evil, who also happens to be my past father," I concluded.

Hmm…still not sure about the order of all that…

To say they didn't look overwhelmed, would have been a clear and exaggerated lie.

I then continued to explain my plan on how to get The Corruptor down for good.

"Absolutely not" Mamoru said once I finished. I froze in my dramatic delivery of the plan, "What? Why?"

He gave me a glare.

"Oh. That"

"Yes, that. How can you talk so calmly of dying?"

Mr. Shaw, Sapphire and Mr. Ford were looking at Mamoru with what looked like respect.

I sighed, "Listen, this is the only way to-"

"No" he interrupted angrily. There was fear in his eyes, that I was serious. Which I was. "You listen, Usagi. Listen very carefully" he sank to his knees in front of me, holding my hands as if life depended on it, "You are not going to die. Not here, not now. You are going to live your life. All of it"

I shook my head, "No. I'm not" I replied gently, "There's no other way to do this, Mamoru. The Corruptor's made a very real threat to every single person that is any way related to me. I'm almost sure that he told Diamond about Mr. Ford, Motoki, and Tom helping me, that they were finding information for me to use against Diamond, to get Diamond to take care of them- while it was the exact opposite. He knows we're close to finding a way to destroy him, and the longer I draw this out, the more danger the people around me are in, so I've got to-"

"To die?" he interrupted angrily, "The price you pay is your life?"

"Yes"

"Usagi" Tom interrupted, hoping to stop this 'calm' discussion, "We don't know that you dying is going to get the sword, we have absolutely no idea if this is what Rubeus meant by 'death' giving you the sword"

"What do you think it means?" I asked exasperatedly, "That if I stand around and wait for Diamond to kill me, that it'll be easier to come back and kill The Corruptor?"

"That's what you're afraid of" Mr. Shaw said quietly, "You're afraid of Diamond killing you"

I spun on him, "I've accepted that, but it's decided. I'm going to do this, with you guys, or without. I'm going to bed. You stay here," I said to Mamoru
With that I teleported back to my house. I stormed into my room, ignoring the worried glances I got from my mom and Shingo. After a knock came at the door, "I'm trying to sleep" I snapped at whoever was there.

Not another moment went by before Mamoru was standing beside me, having teleported silently.

"I will not be dismissed as easily as that, Usagi" he said as he stepped closer to me

"How'd you get here?"

"Sapphire schooled me quickly" Mamoru said coldly, "Apparently I'm not without my own powers"

"Talk all you want" I said as I went to sit on the bed, "I'm going to sleep"

He sat down on his knees in front of me, grabbing my hands before I could lie down, "No. We're talking about this now"

"It's been talked about. And it's decided" I said coldly, looking away from his azure eyes.

"I don't trust you making a decision such as this" he hissed, drawing his face closer to me. He was angrier than I had ever seen him.

"I wouldn't trust you to make any decisions either, since you haven't been Mr. Sane lately" the second the words were out of my mouth, I regretted them. He'd been going insane in that place- he'd been tortured into near madness, and I'd just slammed that in his face.

He didn't even look shocked, "Let's not exchange quips over who's more insane at the moment- even though it's clearly you" he added coldly, "We'll have to come up with another plan, as no way in hell are we negotiating your life"

"No"

I swatted his hands away and lay down, pulling the covers over me.

But barely a second had passed before the covers were ripped back, "Usagi!" he hissed, "That is enough!"

I launched myself out of the bed, standing angrily before him, "Hey! I've accepted it, okay!?"

"No, you haven't" he laughed confidently

I hesitated, "Well…what do you want me to do about it? Cry? Moan how it isn't fair? Beg for there to be another way? But there isn't! This all has to do with me! I've killed all our friends, and in the end, there won't be anything left either way!"

"Yes!" he cried, throwing his arms in the air, "Cry! Moan, beg- anything but this impassive display! Show me you want to live!"

"Of course I do" I spat, "But I, unlike you, know that there isn't anything else to do! There is no happy ending, Mamoru! Never for us! We'll probably be born again- to continue this battle- and we'll meet again, and be together again, so I don't know why you're so scared-"

"BECAUSE I CAN'T LOSE YOU AGAIN!" he roared in my face. His eyes widened in desperation and he released a panicked breath. His face crumpled in pain and he bowed his head to mine. He was shaking, breaths coming shallowly. He was scared- which always made me scared. Nothing seemed that bad, until the point where his fear made me realize it was bad- very bad.

I wrapped my arms around him, feeling his lips quivering against my hair.

"I'm sorry" I whispered

Whatever calmness I had built up…it was deteriorating. Leaving me completely vulnerable, "I…I don't want to die…"

He pulled me even closer to him, "Of course you don't"

I shivered, when had it gotten so cold in here? "But…I'm going to…" I whispered

Mamoru moved to stare into my eyes, "I won't let you, I promise"

Images fired relentlessly in my mind, each one shattering me. I once again saw myself plastered to a park bench by my own blood. My eyes wide with shock, barely understanding what had happened. His hand aiming right at my eyes, the gun glinting in the starlight. Blood pooling over my white shirt, running through my golden hair…marring it…

"I can't" I began to sob, "Mamoru…I can't die like that…"

He frowned in concern, holding me preciously, "Like what?"

I choked on a gasp, eyes closing heavily, "I know how Diamond's going to kill me." I finally told him, "It's goi-It's going to hurt. I just…I can't die that way" I shivered against him, "This way, though…maybe I won't feel- it won't be that bad-"

"Usako," he said as tenderly as I'd ever heard it, caressing my face. His hands were warm but they weren't breaking through the chill that had consumed me. He gazed into my eyes, which were alight with unspeakable terror. I didn't want to be saying these things to him, telling him how scared I was of dying. But I couldn't stop.

I looked away, my gaze falling to the window. I didn't want to fall apart. I had to keep pretending that I was going to be okay, because when I pretended, I almost started to believe it-

But I wasn't okay. I didn't want to die. The last two times had been different. The first I had died cleanly with Endymion and my friends falling before me. Then the battle with Beryl, I had saved their lives and then it hadn't even been real death as I was returned. But this time, I wouldn't return to life, I knew that too well. This life was over. My life was over. If I died this time, I wouldn't return. The light within me would be dead, giving me no will to life. If I was lucky, I could send the others to life as my last will, but that was it. There would be no more Tsukino Usagi, no Princess Serenity, no Sailor Moon.

This time I was walking clearly into death's way, and I wouldn't be able to get away from it. But I didn't want this to be the way it happened: the cold barrel pressed against my head, cold violet eyes telling me they didn't care- such violence…I couldn't-

Mamoru, suddenly alarmed at my unresponsiveness, felt my hands, "Usagi, you're freezing" he gasped out. A pathetic whimper slid from my lips as I lost completely all motivation to hide my terror, to hide my weakness, falling into him weakly.
With a protective growl, he swept me into his arms, rushing with me into the bathroom. Somehow the water flicked on, steaming around us. He lowered it using his hands. I just shivered, crying. I felt so empty…so scared.

And then clothes and all, Mamoru carried me into the shower. I hissed from the shock that came as the water pelted my skin, it soaked Kevin's clothes on my skin, making them heavy. Mamoru pulled me into him and my arms curled around him as I kept crying. I was so weak. I couldn't possibly win this game against Diamond…I'd die with a horrible violence that was seen everyday. And I couldn't stop it from happening…

The water was warm, but my skin was so mysteriously cold that it hurt to have the heat hit it. Everything was stinging sharply and I clung to Mamoru, trying to hide my skin from the water.

"Mamoru" I breathed, panicked, "It-"

He shushed me, exposing me to the water. I hid my face against his neck and shoulder, water dripping from my lips. My hair enveloped my face, sticking to it silkily and Kevin's shirt clung to my skin as water traveled through the fabric. There was no distinguishing from my tears to the shower's water. Hysteria encompassed me, and my heart beat exhaustedly. My entire body felt dead…I'd lost so much of myself to Diamond Torii. What would a little thing like breath- or consciousness- be to lose now? Surely, nothing-

"I just want it over" I moaned against Mamoru's wet skin, "Make it all go away…"

He kissed my temple, "Usako," he urged, "You can't give up"

This only depressed me. I sagged at this information. He noticed with alarm that his supposed-to-help words had had the opposite effect. I fell against him. I wanted to just wither away, to make it all stop. I held his shoulders wearily.

I was so scared to die. Diamond had asked me how I wanted to die. But the truth was I wasn't ready to give it all up…I just wanted the pain to end. I hated it. It made me numb to Mamoru's presence.

"Usagi" he breathed against me, "Where is my stubborn Usagi? I know you're stronger than this! I realize what I'm asking you to do- for you to keep fighting after all the suffering you've endured. I know what he's done to you, Usako. Nothing could inform me of your extreme pain…I'm a fool to say I truly understand what you're going through. And yet, here I am, asking you-" he shook his head, flecks of water flying from his pale face, "No. I'm begging you. Don't give up now. I love you too much to let you go. I refuse to let you lose yourself to this pain, when I know that somewhere inside of you is my strong, powerful Usagi, who is not ready to quit"

I cried even harder, "She's dead"

"No" he rebutted, "She is not! She is here in my arms. She's just so tired from the pain that won't leave her be. But I believe in her"

My tears lessened as my heart blazed with love. The ice was leaving…strength was within sight.

"You believe in ghosts?" I asked him tearfully

He grinned down at me, his hair glued to his forehead. He was so beautiful. "She is not a ghost" he pledged, "She's bursting with life- a life that she isn't ready to let go of. And she is magnificent."

It almost hurt, how much faith he had in me. He believed in me so much. Even after I'd been reduced to this sliver of Tsukino Usagi. Even now, he still had confidence in me…

It seemed impossible that such belief could have survived that hell. My incoherent thoughts barely remembered the nightmare he had been through in that prison. Diamond had placed him there, to add pressure to me, assuring me that his soul would soon fade from existence …and yet, through it all- he'd steadfastly clung to it- and to his sanity

"Mamoru" I said slowly, my skin finally warming, "All that time- how did you survive?"

His thumb stroked my dripping face with so much adoration that I almost cried again.

"I had you" he whispered, "Memories of you…Your laugh, your smile, your eyes, your unyielding integrity. You kept me strong, Usako. You saved me, just as you promised. Now please, let me save you, as I promised"

I wanted to honor his promise. Every now and then, I needed rescuing too. I needed someone to lean on.

"Save me" I whispered back, "Make me believe in her again"

His intensity did not die – it just switched from frustrated determination to something else entirely, something I recognized only too well. The blackness in his eyes shimmered away until he was suddenly scorching down at me, his breath quickening. Invigorated by his ongoing faith, my body thrived at his radiance and I grasped his shoulders, drawing his lips to mine. Meeting my urgency, he crushed me gently against the shower wall, but pressing me further into him as if our proximity could never be close enough. The kiss, assisted by the heat of our scolding environment, heated up as both of his hands slid to the edge of Kevin's shirt, dragging it off of me.

Due to the cover, no purpose would have been served by wearing my usual upper undergarments, and so when I'd finally tugged his shirt off, nothing inhibited our contact. I gasped as the dormant reservoir of pleasure was fuelled by this memory, flaring up instantly. Thrill took its wicked toll on my body and my hands roved his slick skin. His arms were so strong, so familiar... his muscles flexed beneath my fingers as he moved. His lips, achieving a balance between softness and firmness, descended to the flushed skin of my throat, his teeth grazing there. My nails bit into him. It felt wonderful... addictive.

I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt this way. My body had been poked and prodded and teased until it couldn't stand it...hurt by lips and hands that dared to touch that which did not belong to them. I thought I'd be forever numbed to how this was supposed to feel, but I was wrong. Mamoru was melting the ice with his gentle heat, coaxing me to feel again instead of the force I'd grown accustomed to.

"Mamoru" I moaned with the most passion I had heard in my voice for what felt like years, "I love you so much" I whispered.

There was no way he could have heard over the volume of the crashing water.

But he knew.

For a long time it was quiet as he held me and touched me as I'd never thought anyone would…with love. His face was at the crook of my neck, murmuring quietly words of love.

It didn't matter then. That I was going to die soon. That our love would be sacrificed.

None of it did.

Because this moment was ours, and ours alone. He held me in his strong arms, which could have easily crushed me but chose to hold me gently. Our clothes lay in a heap in the corner.

We stood before each other, completely bare.

And it felt perfect.

There was no fear, no anxiety- no pressure. A little sadness possibly, but other than that, I felt utterly at peace for this one moment in time.

--C&B--

So, liked the chapter? Tell me what you guys thought in a review!

Anyway, so, we finally see Usagi break down. It's been a long time coming but the whole dying thing was just the last straw on the camel's back. But thankfully Mamoru was there to help her out. I would like to say that Mamoru is back for good, but we'll see if anyone else is. Tune in next time to find out.

Thank you to the usuals: solaramber, jupiter2005, tototo, and unknown reader. You guys have stuck with me through thick and thin and I thank you with all my heart. :)

The climax of the story is of course on it's way. The next few chapters are insanely fast paced and the conclusion of it, so I'll try to be quicker with updates, and every little review helps.