Author's Notes: OH MY GOD!!! IT'S BEEN SOOOO LONG!! I'M SORRY!!! But, guess why I'm writing this? CUZ I'M SICK!!! Well, THERE'S a shocker, eh? This chapter is gonna be SOOOOOOOOOO short, but I just wanted to do it so you people had something to hold you over. I'm REALLY sorry, but I don't get home from school till 9:00 PM cuz I work on BOTH of the school plays (Middle School and High School) at the same time. Maybe I'll have out another chapter soon, but I doubt it. It'll probably be done by Christmas vacation… Thank you everyone for your support, and for not decapitating me just yet. Look, Blue, I'm writing!!


Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon. Is that blunt enough for you?

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Heaven's Flames

Chapter 14

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Rule #1: Find yourself a place to hide and stay there.

Rule #2: Don't piss off the vampire.

Rule #3: Keep your mouth shut.

Rule #4: Stay away from anything with black eyes.

Rule #5: If you need help, only go to the fairies.

Rule #6: Don't get attached to anyone.

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Usagi's heart was pounding much too fast. To have your heart nearly cracking your rib cage couldn't be healthy…

Mamoru shifted himself slightly so he wasn't crushing the trembling blonde beneath him. He balanced himself with a hand on either side of her. He pressed his mouth down harder on hers, deepening the kiss.

Usagi's body shook from the passion Mamoru was pouring into her. Her whole body, inside and out, was quivering with excitement, surprise and… utter love.

The feeling soon came back to her numb body and she felt herself leaning into Mamoru's kiss. She never wanted to let go… It was just like heaven…

Just as she had imagined it to be.

But, she had to part, eventually. Her stuffy nose wasn't enabling her to breathe anyway but her mouth, and with Mamoru's tongue dancing with her own, that was kind of hard to do.

As if sensing this, Mamoru very slowly began to pull away, leaving their mouths open in abandonment, heavy breaths rushing past their lips, and their bodies craving for more.

"Mamoru…" she managed out, voice still strained and sickly. Usagi sighed against him. She let her head fall back into the pillow more comfortably. She hadn't even noticed she had craned her neck up to get better access to Mamoru's kiss.

His eyes were soft, smiling down on her kindly. Those gorgeous blue eyes that Usagi could stare into all day…

Mamoru brushed his thumb along her cheek and slowly sat up. He shifted slightly and past a fleeting glance over her lips once more. He stood from his position on the bed, but kept himself facing her. He tucked his shirt, jacket, and blanket around her more tightly.

Usagi reached out her arm, brushing her fingers lightly against his naked chest. Mamoru shuddered against the feathery touch. He brought his hand up over hers, resting her palm flat on his left breast. She could feel his heart pounding beneath her fingertips.

A slow smile graced his bloodless lips. Usagi wondered how he could be a dead corpse, yet able to move, and have a heartbeat and feel. It was so amazing and… impossible in a way. But, what did it matter?

But then… Then came the fear. The fear that this was just another one of those moments were Mamoru did something completely irrational and romantic, got Usagi's hopes up, and then tore out her very heart. Just another one of those times when she had finally thought he had begun to care, but then was rudely mistaken. Another time… when she would be reverted to tears…

Usagi could feel a cough rising up her raspy throat.  She furrowed her brow in futile attempt and tried desperately to swallow it down. However, the clawing of it in her chest was just too much. She hunched her back a bit, hand flying to her mouth to cover the hacking cough. Hopefully the medicine would kick in soon…

Mamoru cringed. He placed her hand down onto the bed next to her hacking body. Smiling tenderly, he rested his hand on her forehead. She still had a hell of a fever…

"It's OK," he whispered. "Shhh… You're going to be OK." He gulped. "You'll see…" he finished unsurely.

Usagi managed a weak smile. Her muscles relaxed as the cough died down. She nodded numbly.

If only this tenderness would last…

The vampire leaned down and brushed his bloodless lips along her forehead. He pulled away slightly, their faces mere millimeters apart. His head began to pound.

"Go to sleep," he ordered gently. "And when you wake up, I'm sure the medicine will have kicked in." He kissed her flushed cheek. "I'll stay here, right beside you…" Mamoru nuzzled softly into the crook of her neck, forgetting all vampire habits, kissing along her jaw.

Usagi's breath became shallower than it already was. Her head was spinning, her stomach experiencing an aerial ballet of butterflies. She bit back a pleasurable moan as Mamoru continued teasing her jaw line and neck. A small giggle erupted past her lips.

"I think… That if you want me to go to sleep, you're going to have to stop biting my neck," Usagi chided laughingly. Mamoru flushed and slowly pulled back.

"Believe me, Usa," he replied, pleased with the blush that graced her cheeks at the nickname, "If I was biting your neck, you'd know." He grinned, his fangs clearly visible.

Usagi smiled, coughing slightly. She sniffled and then coughed again. She opened her mouth to respond, but Mamoru pressed his fingers against her lips to quiet her.

"Just go to sleep, all right?" He removed his fingers from her lips, replacing them with his own lips.

Usagi's heart sped up. The kiss ended as quickly as it had begun, leaving her lips and previously abandoned neck tingling. She could tell her face was flushed, and not just from the fever.

"Sleep well," Mamoru murmured, pulling away from her fully. "Feel better."

Usagi nodded. She wrapped Mamoru's clothes around her more fully and let her eyes flutter close. Without even realizing it she managed out an "I love you… Mamo-chan…" before drifting off into sleep.

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            Mamoru twirled his pencil with his fingers. He stared intently at the black sketchbook before him, deciding what he should add to the picture next. He rummaged through his tattered bag that lay next to him. The same bag that he had brought with him six years ago… The same pencils, the same sketchpads… His goal to be an artist was a lost one, now, but that didn't mean he wouldn't stop doing it just for fun.

            After all, he had all of eternity ahead of him.

            Mamoru pulled a short, overused eraser from his bag. He was about to correct one of his stray lines when his attention snapped back to the sleeping girl in his bed.

            Usagi tossed onto her side and groaned, fitfully sleeping. Her blonde hair, loose from its odango, stuck to her sweat licked body. Her breathing was heavy, and raspy. Somewhere along the lines she had kicked away the coat, tee-shirt, and blanket. Her clothes stuck to her in a wrinkled mess, midriff clearly shown.

            Mamoru eyed her carefully. He was worried, without a doubt. It had been 3 hours now and she didn't seem to be improving any.

            Mamoru gulped.

            What if the medicine wasn't going to work…

            What if--

            Mamoru's thought were cut short as Usagi stopped tossing in the bed.

            The vampire's eyes widened.

            She stopped moving.

            She stopped breathing.

            And Mamoru's heart stopped as well.
           
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Author's Notes: MWHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! IT'S OVER!!!! Well, this chapter is, at least. Woo..!! Took me long enough, eh? Have fun, guys! Maybe I'll go write some No Way Out. Will that make you all happy? Yeah?! WELL IT BETTER DAMNIT!!!! -_-;; Ahem… Yes… Well… Bai…