**************
Living In Fear
Part 7
By Usa and Emiri
**************

Ikuko looked up from her pie as she heard the front door bang. "Who's there?"

Usagi walked into the dining room. "It's me, Mama," she said. Her blue eyes were shining brightly with happy tears.

"Usagi?" Ikuko looked into her eyes. "You...remember?"

"Hai!" Usagi exclaimed, leaping into her mothers arms.

Ikuko hugged her tight. "What happened to your head?" she exlaimed, noticing the small bruise.

"Softball," she replied. "It must have knocked me good to joggle everything back into place."

"My darling klutzy daughter!" Ikuko exclaimed before bursting into tears.

Usagi smiled. "Ne, aren't I supposed to be the cry baby around here?"

Ikuko smiled back, but then her expression darkened. "You...remember everything?"

"Un..."

"Usagi, gomen nasai....for not believing you, for making you go through this, for making you hurt and unhappy..." Ikuko started sobbing. "I'm such a horrible mother, I never even listened to you. I was so selfish...and I almost lost my only daughter because of it...Usagi, can you ever forgive me for it?"

"Mama," Usagi said, hugging Ikuko. "Of course I forgive you. I understand why you didn't believe me. I just wanted you to be happy and you were happy with Tanaka. I didn't know how to tell you that he was mean to me. He's hated me from the start. I decided that I needed to save you from him. I didn't want him to turn on you."

"Oh, Usagi...you're so brave and mature and wonderful...You know, I feel like I really don't know anything about you anymore...and now that I almost lost you..."

Usagi took her mother's face in her hands and looked her in the eyes. "You will NEVER lose me, Mama! I will always be there for you! I love you so much!"

"I love you too, my darling daughter." Ikuko kissed Usagi's forehead. "I'm so sorry you had to go through all this."

Usagi hugged her mother again with a sigh. They were going to be all right.

**
That's the end! Tell us what you think!! ONEGAI YO!! *puppy dog eyes*