Author's Notes: This is just a cute little one-shot I thought would be perfect. I really wanted Usagi to shine, and for Mamoru to be a little more emotionally available. I hope you like it. Please review.

Saving Tuxedo Kamen
A Love Shots Story

Sailor Moon tugged at Tuxedo Kamen's shoulders, hardly able to lift them more than a few inches from the ground as her fingers bit into the fabric, pulling, straining. She groaned as his body moved another inch, and then another. She grunted with the effort of it, but she knew there wasn't much time and she had to get him out of sight. She needed help. There was nothing she could do by herself, in the cold, without supplies. She grunted with the effort as she pulled again, step by torturous step, deeper into the shadows of the alley.

Breathing heavily, she lay him as gently as she could onto the pavement and hurried back to the mouth of the alley, looking out carefully. The dark general wasn't there. At least not that she could see. And what had he been doing out there in the first place? Sailor Moon shook her head and returned to him. There had to be an easier way. He was too heavy for her to carry by herself, super strength or not.

She recognized where she was however, and knew help was close, if she was willing to leave him. Biting her lip, she considered it. The last thing she wanted to do was let him remain unprotected, but already the blood was seeping through the skirt of her fuku, which she had torn off and tied around his thigh. The light of the moon told her it was now soaked with his blood. If he didn't get help, and fast, he could bleed to death.

The thought of losing him, the only other person who fought the dark kingdom with her, the man who had saved her so many times, tore at her chest like a gaping, clawing wound. She couldn't let him die. Decision made, she bent and kissed his brow. "Stay here," she whispered. "I'll be right back with help."

She gave him one last look before she ran down the alley to the other end and knocked on a door that led out to it. She pounded furiously against the metal, staring back the way she had come. Every shadow made her fear that the dark general had returned to take Tuxedo Kamen and she barely restrained herself from running back to him before her pleas could be heard.

There was a loud click and the door finally opened. Sailor Moon sobbed in relief. "Motoki, I need your help," she whispered. "Please."

The blonde arcade worker, who her alternate self considered a big brother, stared at her wide-eyed for a long moment. "Sailor Moon?" he asked, sounding confused.

"Hai. Please help me. I don't know where else to go."

"What's wrong?" he asked. "What can I do?"

"Tuxedo Kamen-sama," she breathed. "He's hurt. I need help."

"Shit," Motoki muttered. He stepped out of the door and blocked the latch with a piece of cardboard. "Where?" he asked.

"This way," Sailor Moon said, pointing down the length of the alley.

Motoki didn't hesitate. He just started running. He was fast, but she was faster, and she knew there was still the danger of a dark general nearby. She couldn't let Tuxedo Kamen be attacked while he was unconscious, or worse a civilian, who was also her friend, get attacked while he tried to help. She made it to the end of the alley, praying they could get the injured man out of sight before anyone came by.

She waited there, on the balls of her feet, ready to do whatever it took to protect her friend and her masked savior. She watched from the corner of her eye as Motoki reached Tuxedo Kamen and began checking him for injuries.

"It's his leg," she whispered. "I didn't see anything else get hit."

"Still, he could have hurt something else. If he injured his neck and we moved him..."

Sailor Moon let out a cry of fear. "I dragged him here," she explained. "From the park."

"From the park?" Motoki exclaimed. "That has to be more than a thousand yards."

"I couldn't leave him there. Jadeite was out there, and I thought I saw one of the other generals too. What else could I do?"

"You dragged him all this way while trying to watch out for the dark generals?" Motoki asked.

"Hai," Sailor Moon whispered. "I didn't know where else to go. It's too far to bring him to my place, and I don't know where he lives. I don't even know his name. Please, just help me get him somewhere safe."

"Alright," Motoki mumured. "I'm going to carry him back. You keep watch."

"Hai," Sailor Moon agreed. She pointed to the rooftops above them. "I'll be up there. Don't lock the door. I don't want to go to the front entrance."

Motoki nodded to the little blonde heroine, then took one of Mamoru's arms and began hauling him up and over his shoulder. He strained, grunting as Tuxedo Kamen landed on his shoulder, and watched the Moon Senshi leap to the roof above them and run lightly along the edge as though it was the ground. His distraction didn't last long and he realized he was terrified.

Something had happened to Tuxedo Kamen, who happened to be his best friend Mamoru. He wasn't sure what he was doing. He didn't know as much first aid as Mamoru did, but he had to do something. He strained under the weight of the caped superhero and wondered again how the tiny blonde warrior had managed to haul him the entire way from the park. Mamoru wasn't a small man. He was over six feet and while he wasn't bulky, he was muscled and healthy, while she... she was very small.

He sighed as he trudged deeper into the alley. It took several minutes to get to the door of the Crown, and by the time he reached it he was sweating and swearing. His legs shook with each step, but he didn't put Mam- Tuxedo Kamen on the ground. He wasn't sure he'd be able to pick him back up. He wouldn't let him down now. Once inside the breakroom he lugged Mamoru to the couch and lay him down as gently as he could considering the other teen had been on his shoulder.

Then he raced to the cupboard and pulled out the first aid kit. Thankfully it had enough to handle something like this. He'd learned a bit in the past few weeks since discovering Mamoru's secret identity. He heard Sailor Moon enter just as he tore Tuxedo Kamen's pant leg open. She hissed and he turned to her. Her bright blue eyes were welling up with tears.

"Can you help him?" she asked.

"I think so," he said.

Sailor Moon knelt on the floor at his side. "He saved me, again."

"What do you mean?" Motoki asked, curious.

"I was on patrol. Just a normal night. No Youma. Then I heard voices and saw a dark general trying to attack him. I reacted without thinking, charging my tiara, but he heard me and released the attack at me instead. Tuxedo Kamen leapt into the path of the attack."

"Why was the dark general after him?" Motoki wondered.

"Honestly, I have no idea. I wish I knew where Luna was." She let out a soft sigh.

"Who is Luna?" Motoki asked.

Sailor Moon giggled. "She's my cat. Well, sort of a cat. She's actually an alien. But a nice one. She looks like a cat though. She found me and turned me into Sailor Moon. Anyway, she's smart and sometimes she just knows things."

Motoki was frowning now. He knew a cat named Luna. A cat who seemed far more intelligent than a normal cat. A cat that had attached herself to a young blonde girl he was extremely protective of. He peeped at Sailor Moon out of the corner of his eye and nearly gasped. Now that he had figured her out he could see Usagi clearly. Damn. What were the odds of both his friends becoming superheroes?

This could be very bad. Especially if Sailor Moon discovered Tuxedo Kamen was actually the very boy that always picked on Usagi. It was a potential disaster.

"I can care for him," he said, keeping his voice low.

"I thought so, but I want to make sure he knows he is with friends when he wakes up Toki. He's been attacked, which means he will feel defensive. He could hurt you accidentally without even trying."

Motoki nodded, more worried than ever. Usagi was right, but that wasn't an issue as Mamoru was his best friend. He couldn't tell her that of course. If he fought too hard she might get suspicious. It was late however, nearing eleven. She should have been at home in bed. Would she get caught, being out so late? Her parents could be a bit overprotective.

As he considered his options, Motoki continued treating Tuxedo Kamen's leg, though he knew from experience it would heal much faster than anyone could possibly believe. By the next morning he would hardly have a limp, as long as the wound was properly cleaned so it could heal completely. It was some sort of gift that added to his superhero abilities. Honestly it would be a good thing to have around Sailor Moon, now that he thought about it.

"Do you patrol every night?" Motoki asked, keeping his voice low. He was the only one in the arcade, aside from the two heroes, but somehow it felt better to whisper.

"Almost. Sometimes I can't, for one reason or another, but I've been at this a few weeks and I try to patrol at least once a day." Sailor Moon wasn't looking at him. She was focused on the wound. When she suddenly breathed a heavy sigh, Motoki looked over at her and raised an eyebrow. She giggled. "I hoped he healed as fast as I do, and I was right," she explained.

"You heal fast too?" he asked.

The little blonde giggled. "Yup. And it's a good thing too. People will only buy the 'I fell' excuse so many times, even from a known klutz."

"I can see that," Motoki agreed.

Tuxedo Kamen was stirring in his sleep now and he turned his attention to his friend, telling him what was up before he opened his eyes. "It's okay Tuxedo Kamen," he said, deliberately using the hero name. "Sailor Moon brought you to me so I could fix you up. She's here to make sure you know you're safe."

The vivid blue of his friend's eyes appeared as he blinked them open. He met Motoki's gaze and gave the tiniest nod to show he understood. After a cough, he turned his head and looked at Sailor Moon. For just a moment Motoki saw something in his eyes he had never imagined he would witness.

Hope.

Tuxedo Kamen was infatuated with Sailor Moon, but it was so much more than that. For some reason, she gave him a purpose, and hope for a future. Whatever Mamoru felt about Usagi, which was often unclear to Motoki, he was in love with her alter ego.

"I have to go," Sailor Moon said. "Are you alright now?"

"Hai. Go, and be safe," Tuxedo Kamen answered. "And Sailor Moon? Thank you, for saving my life. I can't believe I walked right into their meeting like that, in my normal form no less. I'm lucky I survived as long as I did."

"Any time," Sailor Moon squeaked.

Motoki choked back a laugh. Mamoru's voice was deep, but as Tuxedo Kamen he sounded dangerous. And watching Sailor Moon shiver at the sound was something he would never forget.

"You too," Sailor Moon whispered, and before Motoki could turn around and say goodbye, she was gone. The door clicked closed softly behind her.

Motoki sighed, turning back to his best friend, who was struggling to stand. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Making sure Usagi gets home alright," Mamoru answered. He grinned, looking more excited and happy than Motoki had ever seen him.

"What are you smiling about? You've been picking on that girl for weeks." Motoki shook his head in exasperation.

"I've only been picking on her to keep her safe," he admitted. "Now that I know who she is, I don't have to worry about the dark generals using her against me. She can take care of herself."

"How…," Motoki cleared his throat. "How did you know?" he asked.

"I could hear everything she said to you. I put the clues together and as soon as I woke up and looked at her, I knew. I could see my Usako."

"Usako?" Motoki asked. "Why didn't you tell me you had feelings for her."

Tuxedo Kamen, the now famous masked hero, blushed. He shrugged his shoulders awkwardly. "I don't really know. It was sort of special, I guess. Being the only one to know kept her safe."

"Are you going to tell her?" Motoki asked, insanely curious.

"Soon. Not tonight. Soon."

"Alright then," Motoki said. "Go on. Make sure she gets home alright."

Mamoru woke with the sun, and grinned. It was going to be a good day. The sky was already bright and a few fluffy clouds moved slowly along the horizon. Everything seemed beautiful and bright.

He'd had a close call the night before. How he'd managed to walk right into the middle of a meeting between two dark generals, he couldn't guess. It had nearly been his undoing. He had to be more aware of his surroundings when he was untransformed.

Somehow, the heroine that was so tiny he could lift her effortlessly had managed to drag him what amounted to about three-thousand feet, by herself, in the dark, and avoid both dark generals. He had been in and out of consciousness the entire time, but something in whatever hit him had made it so he couldn't speak, or even help her get him to safety. After he had made sure his favorite blonde was safely home in bed, he had run across the rooftops to his apartment and gotten some sleep himself.

Now he had a run-in to orchestrate.

Mamoru hurried through his shower, drank a cup of coffee, and hurried out the door. He knew where they normally ran into each other and made it a point to be there early. Today, when they ran into each other, Mamoru was going to say what he'd wanted to say for so long.

When he spied the two long pigtails flying in the breeze, Mamoru set himself. He heard her footsteps pounding on the sidewalk and stepped into her path. This time, when she slammed face-first into his chest, he caught her, turning slightly to decrease the momentum.

"Good morning Usagi," he murmured into her ear, then laughed when she gasped in surprise. He pulled back enough to see her face and couldn't help grinning like a fool. She was so beautiful. But more than that, she was kind and funny and everything he couldn't be.

"Ma-Mamoru-san? Are you alright?"

"Hai," he answered, trying hard not to laugh at her confused expression. "I discovered something wonderful, so I'm very happy."

"That's a good thing Mamoru. I'm happy for you." She gave him a brilliant smile.

"You really are, aren't you?" He didn't wait for her to respond. Instead he pressed his lips against her forehead in a small caress. "You don't even know the one who has made me so happy."

"Wh-what do you mean?" she asked, looking nervous now.

"I have a confession to make," Mamoru said. He could tell he was freaking her out a little and wanted to rip the bandaid off. "I know I've been a baka to you. I've teased you and been mean. It's time I told you why."

Usagi stared up at him, looking adorable and confused, but she gave him all of her attention. "I'm listening," she said, her voice no more than a breathy whisper.

"I love you."

"Wh-what?" Usagi stuttered. Her fingertips clenched around his biceps. "Can you say that again?"

"I love you Tsukino Usagi."

"That makes no sense," she muttered.

Mamoru sighed and tugged her arms down, taking her hand and turning so he could walk with her toward her school. "It makes perfect sense," he said, keeping his voice low. "I have enemies. Powerful ones. Enemies that would stop at nothing to get to me. They would use the people I love against me. So, I hid the truth from you, and from everyone, to keep you safe."

Usagi's brow wrinkled and she stopped walking, tugging on his hand. "Who is after you? We can figure it out and stop them."

"Oh we will," Mamoru told her. "Together. Because last night I learned those same enemies would do anything to get to you too."

"What? Why?"

"Because you are Sailor Moon."

Usagi squeaked, covering her mouth with one hand, and his with the other. "No one can know!" she hissed.

Mamoru laughed. "Then you shouldn't have said so much to Motoki last night. I was awake but couldn't move. I heard everything, I just couldn't answer."

"Motoki and…" Usagi's voice trailed off. "Oh Kami! Are you him? Really?"

Mamoru pulled a rose into existence and handed it to her. "One and the same," he answered, then bent and kissed her cheek. "And now I know you can protect yourself from the enemy we are already both facing, I can finally tell you I love you, and that I've been head-over-heels for you from the moment we met."

"You really love me?" she whispered, her eyes shimmering.

"I do."

"Oh, Mamo-chan!" she whimpered, then threw her arms around him. "I love you too." And to Mamou's complete surprise, she started sobbing.

Panicked, and unsure what steps he could take, Mamoru rubbed her back and held her close while she cried all over him. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I wasn't trying to hurt you."

"Y-y-you d-didn't," she sobbed. "I love you!"

It was a loud wail and Mamoru noticed other pedestrians turning to look at them. He wrapped his arms tighter around her and rested his cheek on the top of her head. "I love you too Usako," he whispered.