Love me for who I am
Written by: Neeko
(tanpopo_nyo@hotmail.com)

Well, this is it. After a year +a few months, it's finished. I'd like to thank those who read every single page to this fanfic and left a review (or emailed me) with comments, suggestions and questions, because it helps me grow into a better writer, so thank you all. Even if you didn't leave a review, but you read this fanfic and enjoyed it, well, I thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to read it.

There were many ways I was thinking of ending this fanfic. I was considering going down the angsty path, or the happy ending path, and I think the choice I chose was right. Or not, heh. I might do an alternate ending if I have time. What's after this? I'm going to pick up my old fanfics, You're my...What?! and It Might Be You and finally finish them. I'll be re-writing my old fanfic, Prisoner of his Heart, so look for those sometime soon! Thank you all again for reading this fanfic and I hope you enjoy the final conclusion to "Love me for who I am."

***
Chapter 9
***

Every single hair was standing up on it's ends on her body. Never in her life had she been so nervous, scared, or frightened. Her teeth bit away at her tender thumbnail, as Minako-Guide paced back and forth.

She had been called to the Powers That Be's office shortly after sending Mamoru to Usagi. The messenger had said, and I quote, "Sucks to be you," and disappeared before Minako-Guide could ask why. Clenching her fist, she slammed it to the palm of her other hand. 'Why did you have to listen to that guy?' She asked herself. 'Sure, he's charming and cute, but come on, you know better than that!' It wasn't just because Mamoru was cute, but it was also because it felt like the right thing to do, was the reason why she did it. It went against everything the Powers had told her NOT to do, but she did it. Sometimes following orders can be the wrong thing to do.

Still, actions always have consequences. And she was about to face hers.

The gentle and soft waiting music was slowly driving her crazy. 'Why do they even play this stupid music?! It doesn't calm you down. Do I look calm do you? DO I?!' She screamed to herself. 'This is not good, not good! They're gonna fire me! Worse, they're gonna banish me from the higher plane. I'm going to live as a... as a...' She gulped. '...human?! No! They can't do that to me! I'm the best damn guide they've ever had!!'

Suddenly, the door opened slightly. Minako-Guide twirled her head to see a bald head sticking itself through the crack. "Are you #134?" He asked.

"H-h-hai..." Since Guide's were able to take the form of any person they want, giving them a name would be somewhat pointless, so they assigned numbers. The man looked at her top to bottom and shook his head. "What?"

"Such a pretty form. Too bad you'll never be able to use it again." Minako-Guide's eyes narrowed at the short bald man as he opened the large, wooden door. "They're ready to see you. Good luck, you'll REALLY need it."

Muttering a few curses, she stomped past him, but not before giving him a view of a certain finger.

She closed the door behind her, and slowly turned around to face the head Powers. The room was vast, and white, with a wooden table in the middle. Four people sat behind the table. Two women, two men. Minako-Guide gulped, as she looked at all four of them. The head powers. These four people were the big kahoona's responsible for running everything. They control what happened, what happens, and what will happen. Her very life was held in the palm of each of their grasps.

"#134?" The first woman called. Her ebony curly hair made her look mean, but her big, brown eyes gave her face an innocent look to them. She motioned for Minako-Guide to step up closer. Minako-Guide swallowed the last of her fears, and slowly moved up until her legs bumped into the table. "I see you have chosen the form of the Love Goddess."

"H-hai.. I t-t-hought it was ap-p-pro.. ap-p-propriate..." Minako-Guide coughed out. Her palms were sweaty, the room seemed incredibly small, and her whole body felt like it was on fire.

"You were recently assigned to the Chiba Mamoru case, is that right?" The first man asked. He looked the oldest. He was bald, with a white beard. His face showed wrinkles on his forehead, eyes and cheeks. Minako-Guide nodded.

"According to this file, you were suppose to A) Help Chiba Mamoru towards enlightenment, then B) Send him to the Heavens to be put at rest. Correct?" The second woman asked. Blonde, straight hair, eyes blue as oceans, she looked nice, but from past experiences with these four, she knew this one was the mean bitchy one. Minako-Guide nodded.

The last man, the youngest looking one of them all with his brown, gelled back hair, eyes green as the deep forest, and a smile that could easily put Mamoru's to the dust. "You, however, sent Mamoru BACK in time, then back to the present for a total of 20 minutes. This clearly goes against rule #4521 in section D. Do not disobey the instructions of the file. What do you have to say for yourself?" His eyes narrowed, voice loud and bellow, Minako screeched.

"I-I-I..." Minako-Guide stammered, not sure of what to say. The man went from total cutie to scary freak! Tell them the truth? Make up a truth covered lie? Bolt for it? She looked at all four, and laughed uncontrollably. "Well, here's how it went! I told him, hey you, go to heaven, and he was all like, nu-uh I don't have to listen to you, then BAM he knocked me out and held me at gunpoint and forced me to send him back, and I was screaming, 'Oh please no, I can't, I can't disobey the PTB' and he was all like 'I don't care girl, I just wanna go back,' but luckily I managed to escape but not before he forced me to send him back and--" Pausing, she looked up at the four and gulped. They weren't buying any of it.

She sighed, and clenched her fists. 'Guess I gotta tell them the truth.' "Okay, that was a lie, in case you didn't know." Taking in a large gulp of air, Minako-Guide looked them straight into the eyes. "I did what I thought was right. It wasn't fair for Tsukino Usagi to live life without knowing the truth. Especially after losing the one she loved the most." She stood tall, firm, even while knowing that probably after this, this would be her last time as Guide. The head Powers began to look at one another, and then at Minako. She knew that they could talk through brain waves, and knew that her very fate was being decided as of this very moment.

"Look," She started. "I know what I did was wrong. I know that I shouldn't have done what I did. But sometimes, the wrong thing to do, is the right thing to do. And..." She sighed. "...I am willing to accept the consequences."

They looked at each other again, which drove Minako-Guide insane. 'Just say what you have to say!!!' She screamed at them, but they never heard what she said. Finally, the younger man looked up at Minako-Guide and spoke.

"#134, your disobeying of orders would normally have you banished, but the fact that you stood up for what you did and are willing to accept the consequences..."

The black haired woman clapped her hands and exclaimed, "You passed!!"

A tidal wave of relief slammed down on Minako-Guide's frail body, as she fell to the floor in shock. Getting back up, she slammed her hands on the table and exclaimed, "WHAT?!"

"When the Chiba Mamoru case was being questioned as to who would take care of it, we decided to pick you, since you had not yet passed the Guide test." The brown haired man explained. "The Guide test is a test that all guides must endure. It challenges your abilities to react to an emergency situation, and sees if you follow your heart at the appropriate times, instead of your brain. The fact that you disobeyed orders and sent Mamoru back in time and that you stood up for your actions shows that you listened to your heart and reacted calmly and properly in an emergency situation. Therefore, #134..." He paused, and materialized a stamp into his hand. Stamping down on a piece of paper, he smiled and looked up at Minako-Guide. "You passed. Congratulations."

Minako-Guide looked down as the paper materialized in her hands, which showed a certificate of graduation. "You mean... I've upgraded?"

The older man nodded. "Hai. You are now assigned as a Guardian. We will assign you a human from the Earth that you will watch over and protect."

The blonde haired girl smirked. "We wanted to rile you up before you stepped in, just to see you all nervous and scared."

Minako-Guide's eyes narrowed at her. 'Ooh, you're a feisty bitch aren't you!'

"Yes, indeed I am." She replied. Minako-Guide covered her mouth and gasped. "Honey, we're the Powers that Be. Of COURSE we can read your mind. Now go, and call the next one in."

Happy as she could ever be, Minako-Guide bowed and screamed a big, "Thank you!" to all four. 'Hey, whatdya know? Saving Mamoru's butt elevated me on the power ladder.' She stopped midway to the door, and twirled around. "Wait! There's something I need to ask."

"Yes?" The older man asked.

"What's going to happen with Mamoru? You guys gonna send him up to the pearly white gates?"

The brown haired man looked at the others and shook his head. "No."

"Ehhh?! You're sending him to Lucifer?! But he didn't anything wrong! Yeah, sure he broke her heart, but that was BEFORE he--"

"It seems we have made a mistake with that one." The older man intervened. "We've made arrangements with the Soldier of Time to fix up this mess."

Minako-Guide raised her eyebrow. "Mess? What? What's happening?"

The black haired girl coughed, and looked at the others. "Chiba Mamoru was not supposed to die at that time. A slip up in our calculations. He has much more in store for him, that if he were to die now, the whole future would be messed up and corrupted. So, we paid a visit to the Guardian of Time, and it would change too much if the past were tampered with, so she decided just to change the present." The black haired girl explained.

Minako-Guide's eyes lit up with delight, as she clasped her hands together. "Does that mean...? Mamoru's alive?!"

They nodded. "Yes. Arrangements and preparations are being made now as we speak. Which reminds me. 134, you are to watch over Chiba Mamoru. Make sure a mistake like this doesn't happen again."

Minako-Guide felt like running around screaming with happiness. First, Mamoru lives, and second, she gets to watch over him?! Oh, thank the Powers.. thank them! She ran up to the table and hugged and kissed every single one, before running out of the room jumping in delight. "Yatta!!" She screamed.

The blonde haired girl wiped the sloppy kiss on her cheek and let out a groan of disgust. "Ugh. That was disgusting."

The brunette smiled, as he watched Minako-Guide leave. "I dunno, she's kind of cute. Now, send in the next one."

***

"Psst, Usagi-chan.... Usagi-chan..."

Usagi's eyes slowly opened by the sudden rough shaking. "Na..ni?"

"Wake up! The doctor's coming, wake up!"

Usagi sat up, and looked at her surroundings. Sitting on a couch, she looked to her side and saw Minako, Rei, and Ami were all asleep next to her. 'I'm in the waiting room?' Usagi rubbed her head, and looked up at Makoto. "Did you bring me here from the morgue?"

Makoto gave her a puzzled face. "Morgue? What are you talking about Usagi-chan? You've been sleeping here this whole time!"

It was Usagi's turn to give her the puzzled look. "Nani?" Sleeping here? This entire time? But... She looked up at the clock, and raised an eyebrow when it said 5:01AM. Time was still the same. She shook her head and closed her eyes. "No, I was at the morgue... I tried to bring him back, but the crystal didn't work.. it..." She bit back the tears that wanted to fall. She cried enough today. "I fell unconscious after. Did Rei-chan bring me back here?"

Makoto sweat dropped, and patted Usagi on the head. "Ahh, Usagi-chan, what are you talking about? I've been watching you this whole time. You didn't get up at all. The doctor's brought in Mamoru to the operating room and--"

Before Makoto could reply, Usagi shot up and stood face to face to the tall brunette. "What?!" Mamoru was alive?!

"Did you lose your memory while you were sleeping?" She asked. "You said Mamoru-san pushed you out of the way of a car, so the ambulance brought him here, and he was brought into the operating room. They've been operating on him for almost 6 hours, and since it was late, you fell asleep."

Usagi couldn't believe it. He was, alive? Her Mamo-chan... alive? How was that possible? "But, he died, Mako-chan. He died! We were sitting here, and the doctor came in and said... said that he--" She stopped, when Makoto's face became more confused.

"Usagi-chan, maybe you were having a nightmare, but I can assure you, none of that happened...."

Usagi blinked a few times, before falling back down on the couch. 'A dream? Was it all a dream?' She clutched her brooch, which was still on her uniform. 'Maybe I was dreaming, dreaming a horrible dream... but then... those words Mamo-chan said to me? Was that a dream too?' She prayed they weren't, but the fact that he was alive....

She pinched herself. "Itai!" She yelped, rubbing her red skin. The sudden shriek woke up the three sleeping girls next to her. Makoto giggled, and patted Usagi on the head.

"Baka. You're not dreaming. This is the real world. Now get up! The doctor's here."

Usagi shook her head, and looked up at the man beside her friend. It was the same doctor who told her the horrible news. But instead of the sad face he had, it was happy. Accomplished. Her eyes lit up, as the worries of the events that happened before left her. The doctor took off his glasses, and rubbed the lens with his shirt. "Tsukino-san?"

"H-hai?"

"The operation was a success. Chiba Mamoru is alive, and fine. He's currently resting right now, but in about half an hour you can see him."

Usagi's eyes sparkled with fireworks, as the words, Chiba Mamoru is alive, rang through her head. Impulses taking over, she squealed with delight, and wrapped her arms around the doctor. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!" She exclaimed. The doctor laughed, as she pulled away. Turning around to her friends, she jumped on the couch on top of them, evoking screams from the schoolgirls. "Minna! He's alive! Mamo-chan's alive!!"

Although the pain surged through their bodies from being squashed by Usagi, Minako, Rei and Ami were all happy to see their Princess light up again. Rei smiled at her blonde haired friend, and hugged her back. "I'm glad, Usagi-chan."

'Maybe it was all a dream. Maybe none of the horrible things happened. No, none of it happened. He's alive. He's awake, and he's fine. The words that were told to me by him may not be true, but it doesn't matter, as long as he's alive.' Deep down, Usagi knew it did matter if he loved her or not, but she was happy and glad that her love was still alive.

***

'Well Mamoru, you did it. You finally said goodbye. Now, to spend your eternity missing her, and wanting to be with her...' Mamoru told himself, as he floated in the endless darkness. One minute he was holding Usagi, kissing her, hugging her, and the next minute he felt himself vanishing by the second. Slowly, yet surely, he saw her and the room disappear, second by second, until he was greeted by the familiar darkness he was so accustomed to.

"Usako..." He whispered.

He wished he could be holding her right now. Kissing her, feeling her skin, capturing her warmth...

...but he would never feel those feelings ever again.

Mamoru's eye opened slightly, when a light caught his eye. A large source of light began to emit in front of him. Shielding his eyes from the brightness, a feeling of familiarity stabbed at his gut. When the light dimmed down, he squinted, and was somewhat happy to see the familiar bubbly blonde haired guide.

"Mamoru!"

Knowing that she was probably here to give him his punishment, Mamoru's smile began to fade, but was caught by surprise when Minako-Guide ran up to him and threw her arms around his neck, giggling in joy. "Huh? Why are you so happy to see me? Shouldn't you be telling me my punishment?" He asked. Minako-Guide looked up at him, and smiled with glee.

"Nuh-uh! I'm here for good news!" Pulling away from him, she stood in front of him, holding her arms out. Behind her, two separate objects protruded themselves from her back and grew into two large, feathery wings. She giggled, and scratched her back. "I'm never going to get use to that feeling. But look! I have wings!" She exclaimed, while moving one at a time.

Astonished by the sight in front of him, Mamoru brought his hands together and began to clap. "So, you're an angel now?"

"Mouuuu..." Minako-Guide cooed, while blushing. "Mamoru, I was ALWAYS an angel." She teased. "But now, I'm a Guardian Angel. The PTB promoted me from Guide to Guardian! Isn't that fabulous?"

A devilish smirk found itself upon Mamoru's lips, as he rested a hand on his hip. "So instead of tormenting a poor human being once in their life, you get to torment them for their entire life?" He joked, and ducked the threatening swipe Minako-Guide took at him. "Kidding, kidding!"

"I should be nice to you, since it's all because of you that I got these wings." Minako explained. "Which reminds me, guess who that poor human being is?" Before Mamoru could reply, Minako pointed her long finger at him millimeters away from his face. "You!!"

Mamoru felt his blood rush away from his brain, as his face turned completely white. SHE? Was HIS guardian?!! "You're kidding me, right?! You're going to watch over me, 24/7, watch every single move I make and monitor every wrong move I make?!" Minako giggled, and grabbed his hands, moving them in an up and down motion.

"Yeah! Isn't that great?!" She asked. Wrapping her arm around his shoulder, she pulled him close to her. "I can see it now." She raised her other hand into the air. "Mamoru and Minako! Prince, and his Guardian Angel. Oooh, I smell a sitcom!!!" She squealed, and clapped her hands. "Everyone'll want us. NBC, ABC, UPN.. heck, even YTV--"

Rolling his eyes, Mamoru gently pushed himself away from Minako-Guide's death grip, and sighed. "You seem to have forgotten something. I'm dead. Besides, what do you mean it was because of me that you got your wings?"

A little disappointed that he pulled away from her, Minako-Guide pouted before continuing. "First off, guess what? You're not dead!"

Mamoru's eyes widened with surprise. 'Not dead?!' "What are you talking about?"

"The Powers screwed up. You're not supposed to die yet. Apparently there's a lot in store for you, and your little girlfriend. SO much, that if you were to die now, the whole future would be screwed up. Heck, I'm not even sure you humans would even have a future." Minako-Guide tapped her slender finger against her chin. "I don't even know if we'd have a future. All I know is that you play a big part in the big scheme that's coming up, so we need you alive and dandy. And, because I granted your wish, I passed the Guide Test which promoted me to Guardian! Which means..." She ran up to Mamoru again, and began to mush and pinch his cheeks. "I get to watch over my witto Mamo-chan! Koochi Koochi Kooo!"

"Wa abot Yuu Sha Ko?" Mamoru tried to ask, but his voice was changed by the screwed up formation of his lips. Minako-Guide blinked a few times.

"Sorry, can't understand you! Speak louder witto baby!!"

Mamoru groaned, and pushed her hands away. "What about Usako?" He asked. "Do I... if I'm alive... can I...?"

Minako-Guide grinned with joy, and patted him on the head. "Yep. You can go back to your Usako. The Powers paid a visit to the Guardian of Time and she set a few changes her and there. The past wasn't changed, the present was, but only you and Usagi both have the memories of what happened. If we changed the past, this whole thing could have repeated itself, and we wouldn't want that now? Not that it would have happened, with your Minako-oneesama to help you!!" She exclaimed, throwing a fist into the air.

Groaning again, Mamoru began to rub his temples. "Having an 'Oneesama' like you... What did I do to deserve that?" For that, he received a large knock on the head by Minako-Guide's fist. "Gomen, gomen..."

"Now come. I'm going to bring you back to your Usako." She held out her slender hand, waiting for him to take it. Mamoru paused, as he stared down at the soft hand. "Well? What are you waiting for?"

He looked up at her, then back at the hand. The hand that belonged to Aino Minako. 'Does she have a real hand? Does she have a real form?' "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"What's your real form? I mean... you don't always look like this, right?" The question was a question that Minako-Guide could not answer properly. It had been so long since she was in her original form, that she had forgotten what it looked like. "Don't tell me you don't know. My Oneesama is quite the forgetful one."

She sent him a death-like glare, and another bap on the head. "It's been a long time. I really don't know what my real form looks like..."

Mamoru waved his hand up and down. "Forget it. You're fine with that look. It suits you. Sometimes TOO well."

"What's THAT suppose to mean?!" She asked, threatening to bap him on the head. Mamoru shook his head.

"Nothing nothing... Oh, one more question."

"It better be good! Times'a wasting!!"

"What's your name? I don't really like calling you Minako, since there already IS a Minako out there..."

Minako-Guide looked up and tapped her chin again. Her name? She never really had a name... it was always 134. "Well, I was always referred to as #134... so I guess I don't really have a name..."

"How about..." He smiled at her. "Shugotenshi."

Minako-Guardian blushed at the name. "Shugotenshi? Isn't that kind of long? How about Shu-chan. Dame, dame... Shu-ONEESAMA! Now, enough of that. Let's go! " And with that, Minak--err, Shu, grabbed his hand, and flew upwards. Creating a portal with the twirl of her finger, they entered and disappeared from the dark world.

***

"Ma...cha... Mo...n... Mamo...."

Hearing what sounded like his name, Mamoru's eyes slowly opened. The bright lights attacked his pupils, but after a while, his eyes got use to the light. The visions around him were blurs, but after time passed, things started to come in focus. He recognized the monitors around him. One monitoring his heartbeat and his vitals. The other... he squinted. 'Well, don't know what that does...'

"Mamo-chan?!"

'That voice...'

"Usa..." He whispered so quietly, that he was surprised the person heard. He turned his head slightly to the left, and saw a tall figure hovering over him. Soon her bright yellow pigtails began to come into focus, as well as her hopeful face. He smiled at her.

"Yokata... Mamo-chan..." Usagi cried, wiping her tears away. "I'm so happy... I thought you... I thought..." Usagi stopped talking, when her voice began to tremble. She raised her hand slowly and saw it shaking, and with that, Mamoru began to slowly sit up to hold her, but Usagi began to protest. "Dame! You just came out of surgery... you shouldn't--"

He never went through surgery. He knew that. He wasn't dizzy at all. There were no incisions. He felt perfectly fine. Pulling the nosepiece out of his nose, he looked up at Usagi and smirked. "You know that I didn't have surgery."

A confused smile. "Nani?"

Gently pulling out the IV that was in his hand, he slowly hopped off the bed, much to Usagi's surprise. "Where are my clothes?" He asked, looking around the room. Usagi ran around the bed until she was in front of him. Pressing on his shoulders, she shook her head.

"No. You're resting! I don't know how you managed to get up, but--"

"Usako." Usagi's eyes widened, hearing that name. She thought she'd never hear it again. She stared at him, almost in a daze. "Can you get me my clothes?" Mamoru looked around the room and frowned. "They've got to be here somewhere..." Standing up, he looked at Usagi's bewildered and confused face. "Usako, you know I didn't have surgery."

"Why do you keep saying that?" Usagi asked. This was too confusing. All of that was a dream. He DID have surgery. He DIDN'T die. He's alive. "You're probably delusional. I'll go get the doctor--" Just as she was about to turn around, grabbed her wrist, and yanked her towards him. Hands now at her arms, he pulled her in and planted his lips onto hers. There was something about Mamoru Chiba and the element of surprise.

The feel of her lips, the taste of her mouth, he could never get sick of it. Moments ago, he thought he'd never be able to taste and feel her again, but now, he'd cherish every single moment. Pulling away, he looked at her flushed face and smiled. "I'm always surprising you, eh?"

She sighed. "You literally took the words out of my mouth."

Mamoru smiled, and then wrapped his arms around her and held her close. "I thought I had lost you forever. Again. I'm never letting you go this time. I've lost you too many times... can't ever lose you again..." Taking deep breath in, the scent of Usagi began to fill his nostrils. "Your scent, your smile, your face, your voice..." He placed another soft kiss on her lips. "I can't lose you. I never will, ever again."

Usagi sighed, basking in his warmth. The tears began to flow again. She wondered if they would ever stop. "Mamo-chan... I thought I lost you too. I had the most horrible dream... It felt so real... You... I can't even say it.. "But you said some sweet words to me... and I was so happy--" She stopped. 'If it was just a dream, then what he said wasn't real... which means he doesn't love me...' Pushing against his chest to get out of his grasp, she realized just how cold it was without him. Usagi looked up at him with confused and hurt eyes. "There's something I need to ask you..."

Wondering why she pulled away, Mamoru tilted his head. "What is it?"

"Mamo..ru.." She looked up at the slight flinch Mamoru gave when she called him that. "Do... do you love me? Honestly... the last time we met, you didn't answer me and--" If everything was a dream, then she'd know the answer, but she still needed to ask. "I just need to know. I need to know so I can let you go, so I can move on withou--"

Mamoru shook his head and smirked. 'She thinks it was just a dream? I'll show her...' He pulled her back into his embrace, and wrapped his arms protectively around her small waist. "Is that it? You know the answer to that. You know the answer to everything. It wasn't a dream, Usako. It was all real. I love you, Tsukino Usagi."

Her eyes widened like two cerulean oceans as the words ran through her mind. "You... but... it wasn't a dream?" How was that possible? "Or was it? Did that really happen? Did you really die? Did I die? Are we in heaven? Ar--" She was silenced by Mamoru's finger pressed against her lips.

"Does it matter? I'm alive, you're alive. We're both alive. I love you, you love me, that's all that matters."

She looked at him with a puzzled look. "But, I saw you die. I felt you die... I saw your dead body."

Mamoru looked down at her with the most surprised look. 'She saw me dead?' "Usako..." He whispered, holding her tighter. "I'm sorry you had to see that..." He knew if he saw HER dead, it would scar him for the rest of his life. Poor Usagi... she's seen him die so many times. He felt the small whimpers, as Usagi continued to cry.

"I tried to bring you back Mamo-chan, I did... but the crystal didn't work. You were right, I couldn't bring you back... but then, how are you here? How are you holding me like this?" She asked, looking up into his eyes. It seemed to real to be true. 'Please don't be a dream. Please don't let me wake up if it is...'

"I was given another chance. I wasn't supposed to die that day. Apparently they have a lot in store for me. I don't know what it is, and I don't care. Apparently they altered everyone's memories except ours. All I know is that I'm supposed to live my life... with you, my sweet princess." He whispered, and pulled her face in for another tantalizing kiss. Usagi let out a small sigh, as the feelings of his lips captured hers. 'I'll never get sick of this, ever.' Every time was a new, wondrous feeling, that would never get old. 'He's back... he's alive. What happened before happened, but somehow he was given a chance to live again.' Every moment together, Usagi would cherish. She would never let him go, ever.

Feeling her arms wrap around his neck, Mamoru slowly slipped his tongue into her mouth. Usagi's eyes widened with excitement, but she closed them again, as the feeling of his tongue wrapped around hers sent chills throughout every single part of her body. How was it possible that a single man could make her feel like she was on fire every time she kissed him? Soon after, the kiss was no longer innocent. It began to develop into fierce, fiery, raw passion. 'More of you,' was what encouraged their movements and actions.

This was no longer just a kiss. It was more than that.

Usagi slowly felt herself being pushed towards the hospital bed behind her. Not separating from his tantalizing lips, she adjusted herself so that when she lay down, her head was at the edge of the bed on the pillow. Mamoru followed, and hovered above her, hands on both sides of her to keep his balance, yet still kissing the daylights out of her.

He groaned into her mouth, his rebellious right hand roamed all over her petite body. Down her sides, up her face, down her front...

"Gods, Usako..." He momentarily pulled away to stare down at her. His body was on fire, and it was all because of this beautiful girl that writhed and wiggled underneath him. Returning to his venture through her mouth, he thought that nothing could spoil this moment, nothing...

"Psstt, Mamoru-kun!" Mamoru's eyes opened. He recognized the voice, but he prayed and hoped it wasn't who he thought it was. He looked towards the left, but the person who he saw didn't look at all familiar. "Surprised to see me? It's me, Shu! I finally found out what my true form was!"

She looked like a goddess. Her long, golden straight hair embraced her backside all the way to her hips. Eyes blue as diamonds, and face as white as snow. Her uniform, however, was still the uniform of Aino Minako. Mamoru was entranced by her beauty. 'Who would have known? She's actually quite beautiful...'

Shu grinned, and patted his head. "Ooh, Mamoru-kun, look at you! You're all growed up. Now, normally I would not allow such actions unless I saw a ring on her finger, but--" She stopped, when she saw that Mamoru had ignored her, and continued to, erm, what he was originally doing. Pouting with her rosy red lips, she flicked him at the back of his head. "Baka, listen to me! Don't come crawling to me when she's knocked up and you can't provide for her! Remember, safe sex is better than--" Mamoru rolled his eyes, grabbed the extra pillow and flung it towards Shu's direction. Knowing that it'd pass right through her, Shu stuck her tongue out. "Nya nyah baka! I'm not corporal to you, but you're corporal to ME! There's nothing you can do. I think I'll just watch you have your kissy fest with Usagi--"

His eyes opened again, as he glared as hard as he could at her.

"Or I could maybe joi--" She looked at him and saw him send her a message that said: Get. The. Fuck. Out. Shu rolled her eyes. "Yeesh. I was just kidding. That'd be like, so totally weird. We're practically brothers and sisters! I mean come on, I know I'm hot and all but--" She stopped again, when she received yet another Mamoru-death glare. "Guys are so pesty when they're horny. Fine. But remember!" She snapped her fingers, and Mamoru felt something drop into his pocket. Reaching into it with his spare hand, he almost face vaulted when he realized what it was.

'Is this how it's gonna be Shu? Always looking out for me?' He wondered. Chuckling, he took his hand out of his pocket.

"If you don't use it, I'll haunt you for the rest of your life!!" She screeched, and disappeared in a flash of smoke. Mamoru rolled his eyes.

'You already do, Shu.'

Going back to what he was originally doing, Mamoru's hands continued to explore her body. Usagi began to shiver against his touch. She loved his warmth. She needed more of it. Perhaps without voluntarily knowing, she wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling his body in closer towards hers. Mamoru's eyes widened at the new sudden electricity that ran through his body. The sudden closeness of certain parts of their bodies began to grow painfully obvious. Mamoru let out a groan, as his assault on her lips grew more fierce.

Usagi blushed, as something began to jab at her stomach. "Mamo-chan..." She moaned into his lips. "Something hard is poking at me."

Mamoru eyes widened and he looked down at her and laughed. How innocent and pure she was! Which was then he realized, that this wasn't right. 'Now isn't the right time to do this...' He realized. 'It should be special, and not in a hospital bed...' Mamoru gently unwillingly unhooked her legs from his waist, and smiled down at her. "Sorry about that."

Usagi looked up into his eyes, and smiled. 'Why is he apologizing? Was he blushing? And what WAS that poking at me?' She sighed. Bringing a hand to his face, she brushed away the bangs that touched his eyes. This was the face of the man she loved, the face of the man she'll always love. Then, before she knew it, tears began to flow yet again from her eyes. Mamoru's face filled with alarm, as he brought his hand to her face, and gently wiped the tears away. "Why are you crying? What happened?" He asked.

Usagi shook her head. "No, don't worry. They're tears of joy." Joy was an understatement of what she was feeling. She was feeling... perfect.

Mamoru smiled deeply at her, and brought his face closer to hers. Placing another soft kiss on her lips, he whispered sweetly into her ear, "Then cry all you want."

The END

Final Notes: Well, that's it. I know it got a little raunchy, but I felt raunchy, so raunchiness is what you get. Aren't you happy you stuck by this long? Hehe, here's a happy ending. When I was first writing this story, I never thought I'd end it like this. I was definitely going down the angsty way, but happy endings are so much more fun to write! I was going to have Mamoru dead for real, and Usagi finds another love and the story ends with her telling this story to her kids, but, I like this ending better. ^^

If you were wondering, I stole the whole "Powers that Be" from Angel: The Series. Made things a bit easier. The four people though, my creation. Also, Shugotenshi means "Guardian Angel" in Japanese, but I decided to shorten it down to Shu. She still takes on the form of Minako, but at least she has a new name. I was thinking of doing Nako, or Minai, but I liked Shu. It's cute.

Also, wondering what it was that Shu put in his pocket? Well, if you don't know already, then I can't tell you. Sorry! *grins* I dedicate this entire story to all you Usa/Mamo fans. Keep rockin. Thank you all, love you, and hope you enjoyed Love me for who I am! Please watch out for my other fanfics that'll be coming to a near Fanfiction.net near you!