Author Notes: Ha! I've FINALLY found some time to write up chapter… what is this now? Chapter… 7? … 8? Who knows?! Anywayz… I'll stop blabbing and go on with the story. I know how eager you all are to read it, right? silence … whatever! I know you're out there!*I am so conceited, lol!*
Disclaimer: Who bothers anymore? shrugs whatever…. I do not own Sailor Moon, though I wouldn't mind taking it off your hands, Naoko! ^_~
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Mamoru released the boy as if he were hot coals, then backed away from the boy, eyes still wide in wonderment. A stirring from behind him told him that Usagi had awakened, he turned round to face her, eyes pleading for her to explain.
"I – I, I can explain," Usagi faltered. Her face had paled to a ghost-like white, as she stared at the floor, ashamed.
"Can you really? Go on Usagi, tell me why there's a boy in this room that has the same hair, face, and eyes as me." Mamoru spat out, a little impatient from the shock he had just experienced.
Usagi winced at his tone, then looked down again, her voice now a mere whisper, "It was so hard… everyday, he'd grow and look more like you… the man that broke my heart." Pain was clear in her inaudible voice, and it was now Mamoru's turn to wince.
"What's going on here mom? Why does that guy look like me?" A young voice piped up, and both Mamoru and Usagi looked alarmed as they remembered their son was in the room. "Do you think he can be my dad mom? We don't have one yet, and I don't think he's too bad, even if he did make you faint… he looked at you like those guys on TV look like when they like a girl. Do you like him mom? Maybe then the boys at school won't call you those mean things because you don't have a husband."
Then Damion turned to Mamoru, and said, "My mom's pretty enough, wouldn't you like to marry her? She's alright if you keep your room clean and don't bring food into living room."
Mamoru chuckled slightly, but quickly sobered as he stared up at Usagi, "He's my son, isn't he? Why didn't you tell me? I could have helped you raised him… you didn't have to be alone. I thought you trusted me." The dark-haired man looked down to Damion, and explained. "Sorry kid, but there's this woman in my life who hasn't forgiven me for something I said to her, and until she forgives me, I can't marry your mom." He looked at Usagi meaningfully. She looked away, pretending she hadn't heard him.
"If you say you're sorry and make your eyes real big, then maybe she'll forgive you. That's what I do when mommy's mad at me, and it always works – doesn't mum?" Damion asked his mother.
Usagi gave him a weak smile, "Perhaps you'd like to go out for some ice cream with your Aunt Mary. Me and this man need to talk about grown-up stuff." Damion brightened up considerably, then ran to put on his shoes. Aunt Mary only nodded, as she put on her coat and lead the boy away, who unknowingly, was being followed by the eyes of his parents.
A silence followed the door being closed, the two staring at each other uncomfortably. "You said you hated me… you called me a slut… I didn't think you wanted to have anything to do with me. I had given up everything for you Mamoru… my home, family, friends, and then I realized that you never really loved me… the man I gave up my life for, never loved me. The man who I gave my virginity to, never loved me. DO YOU HEAR ME MAMORU? YOU NEVER LOVED ME!" Usagi screamed, the sudden outburst frightening Mamoru considerably. He backed up, wondering if she was going to hit him.
Usagi burst into tears, sobbing like a little girl who had scraped her knee. Mamoru came forward tentatively, concerned by the woman's heaving sobs and the water that spilled from her eyes. 'DON'T TOUCH ME!" she yelled, flinching from the man's very touch. "Just go… please go…" lowering her voice to a pleading whisper, "I can't bear to look at you and know you don't love me."
Mamoru was now thoroughly confused. He replied, voice gentle, "I do love you, Usagi."
Usagi just shook her head feverishly, "No… not yet. I'll know when you do… go now please…" she said, nodding towards the door.
Mamoru nodded, and walked out of the door.
~A week later~ (Still in Japan, yes…)
"Damion… you have thirty seconds to find your other shoe… You hear me? Twenty seconds now… if you don't find it soon, we're not going out for those sundaes!" A beautiful, blonde woman yelled threateningly, though she knew she would never do that. She herself loved her sundaes more than her son did, and grinned as she saw her son whirl around the hotel room in search of the elusive shoe. She had been exactly as he was right now when she was younger… always racing against the clock to make it on time. "Five… Four… Three…" she counted.
"I got it! I got it mom! Don't leave without me!" A young boy shouted anxiously, as he attempted to hop toward his mother, while lacing up his shoe on his way. His mother only smiled in amusement. She closed the door behind them, and together they walked towards their car and drove off to "The Arcade" the boy's mother raved about in the states. He would finally have a chance to visit the place.
A gorgeous blonde, 5'9 and the longest pair of legs you could find, strutted into the arcade, followed by a young boy (who, we would like to add, already had the little girls there swooning over the 'cute boy'). They walked to a barstool, and hopped on, to be greeted by Andrew himself.
"Hey Usagi! I see you brought someone along this time!" The blonde man exclaimed, smiling warmly at the miniature replica of Mamoru Chiba himself. Usagi had come by earlier that week after the surprise encounter with Mamoru, and Andrew now knew the entire story.
Usagi smiled, "Hello! This is Endymion Tsukino, Damion for short." She said, grinning proudly at her son. After Andrew had greeted Damion and dropped him some coins to try out on the arcade games, he turned to Usagi, face serious.
"hey Usa-chan… Mamoru wanted me to ask you to his lecture tomorrow. He said it was important, and that you'd get the evidence you'd need." Andrew explained, "I think you should go Usa… this is a big deal for him, this lecture – his entire life depends on it. This is what will decide whether our Mamoru is just another doctor, or good enough to make the elite. This is his LIFE Usagi, please go." Andrew pleaded.
Usagi bit her lip, then nodded in agreement. This was going to be one heck of a favour, but she supposed she would give Mamoru this much before leaving him again. "Come on Damion! We're going home now…" She called, walking towards her son at a Sailor V game.
"No, not like that! You have to jump first, then you flip, zap him… NOW! That right!" Usagi instructed, "going home" a thing of the past.
~The next day~
Usagi sat on a plush chair, in a wide, formal conference room. She sat in the very first row, beside two men discussing the importance of the lecture. What the young man said now would change his life, and his entire career. A tall, raven-haired man walked up to the microphone on the stage, glasses a sexy touch to his already handsome appearance. For a moment, just for a moment, Usagi swooned like a teenager. Whispers died down, as all listened to what the doctor had to say. Rumors had it that he was brilliant at lectures.
The surgeon looked around, blue eyes lighting up at the sight of Usagi. He took a deep breath, and said, "I love Usagi Tsukino," before walking off the podium.
Usagi's eyes watered, wonderfully happy. He had showed her – he had given up his life – the lecture, to show Usagi he loved her. Just as Usagi had done for him, those fateful ten years ago. She ran up the podium and leaped into Mamoru's arms, embracing him in a passionate kiss. The two were completely unaware of the applauding crowd, and the voice of a renowned doctor saying, "Mamoru Chiba, we are pleased to welcome you into the elite team of surgeons. We are pleased to know there is a heart surgeon out there who cares not only about the physical heart, but the heart that conquers all… Love."
~The End~
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Author Notes: Hey… You all got it rite? Heh… anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the story, and I am now letting out a sigh of relief! Whoa! I can now start writing about a new story… which I had dreamed about for quite some time now! Email me with your comments! neptune_aqua_princess@hotmail.com … luv ya 'Almost Your Angel' .. you wonderful, loyal reader! Shout out to Hitomi de Fanel, pyrobunnie, and everyone who reviewed! Please Review! Thanks a lot you all, for sticking it out and reading the story!