AN: Okay, I know I said that this was going to be a one shot, but then…I got bored during the holidays, and I actually liked this story, and I realized that, this story have room for, you know, expansion, whatever that means. So, I decided to keep on writing. I don't know if there's gonna be a point in the story if it keeps going. But…I just couldn't resist. So, here ya go, hope you enjoy!

Um, btw, I have no idea where this is going, I have no plans whatso ever for what's going to happen next. So, sorry if it sucks. I try.

I don't own Sailor Moon. However, I do own the story…based on Sailor Moon…which I don't own (Damn our adequate laws!).

It was her mother's shrieks that woke the startled Usagi up the next morning. "Usagi you're going to be laaaaaaaaate again! Honestly, sweetie, I thought you went to bed at 8: 00 last night, so how come you're still in bed! Come on! Get up! For the love of God Usagi, just get up!"

Groaning, she opened her eyes as narrowly as possible—afraid that the sunlight might blind her—to look at the time. If it was before 8:00, she was not getting up.

Unfortunately for her, Ikoku Tsukino had already dragged her still-limp body out of those protective sheets of hers. "Ow…Ow!!" She heard herself scream as her body landed on her bedroom floor with Tump…which, kind of woke her up, much to her dislike.

Seeing that she had accomplished her goal, Ikoku went downstairs to get breakfast ready.

Groggily, Usagi dragged her feet across the room and stood in front of the mirror on her dresser's door. Examining her reflection, she realized that her mom must've been too busy ushering her out of bed to notice the nasty bruise on her right shoulder—which didn't seem to have gotten better from last night, if anything, it looked worse. She sighed and quickly slipped out of her nightgown and into her school uniform. She was going to have to check with the rest of the gang on how they had gotten home last night.

"USAGI! ARE YOU UP?" Hollered Ikoku from downstairs.

"Yes mother." Mumbling, she grabbed her schoolbag before walking out of her room.

The truth was, she didn't feel better the next day, like she'd hoped the night before. She couldn't even find the energy to run to school, even though it was apparent that she was going to be late. It took everything in her just to drag her feet across the ground. Giving an exasperated sigh, she stole a glance from her watch for the 5th time since she departing from her house that morning. 8: 17, yup, she was clearly going to be late. She could just imagine her sensei sitting in the classroom, wearing a proud grin on her stupid, ugly face—feeling accomplished that she had once again made the correct predicament that Usagi Tsukino was going to be ' tardy'.

Then another image flashed through her mind: herself standing outside her classroom, hands holding a bucket of water each, as a punishment for her 'tardiness'.

She cringed just thinking about it. As if she didn't have enough on her plate right now, with the injuries from last night, her parents' demands to know why her grades were slipping even more (if that was even possible) for the past few months, her having to pretend to go to sleep at 8:00 practically everyday now, with the endless youma attacks and all, and having to decide what to do about Tuxedo Kamen.

Oh my God…Tuxedo Kamen.

What happened to him anyway? She hoped that he wasn't badly hurt.

Or worse. He could've been dead, and she wouldn't have known.

Shaking her head violently, she tried to drive some of her fear away. No, no…that wasn't possible…Tuxedo Kamen saved you last night, remember? Sure, he was hurt, but he could still move and everything, and then like usually, he disappeared before you could thank him. Slowly, Usagi calmed down…of course he's still alive, stupid! He's stronger than that…he can handle a few cuts and bruises.

And that, made her feel better than she had for the past 24 hours. Way better.

With her newfound energy, she feet moved at a faster pace. But of course, she was still going to be late at this rate. But she didn't care; she forgot all about it. Tuxedo Kamen wasn't dead!

Never had she rejoiced so much because of someone's existence in this world.

But then of course, all good things had to come to an end. It took exactly a split second to end Usagi's good mood. It also took a split second for Usagi to spot a red car to stop beside her, with a certain jerk wad's head popping out the window.

You make the connection.

"Hey Odango! Aren't you late for school?" Called the jerk wad/ egotistical moron/ pig-headed person/ a lot more names that are inappropriate for the rating of this story but Usagi certainly thought of. He paused, then added, "…Like usual?"

She looked at him coldly, before turning her head around and kept on walking, too tired to even waste her insults on him.

Mamoru, however, apparently didn't take this rejection to heart. Since his car followed the blonde, as she began to walk faster, and faster.

"Odango! Yo, Odango!" He called, louder this time, as his hands were on the wheels.

Just go away! Leave. Me. Alone. God…what was wrong with him? Didn't he have a life of some sort besides making her life a living hell? This was the last thing she needed right now. She was too tired…too exhausted to have to put up with him. Long gone were her happiness brought on by Tuxedo Kamen's existence. Just hearing his voice annoyed the hell out of her. How come she never noticed before how piercing his voice was to her ears? And how come she never felt how her head was pounding until now? It was like…she could hear her own pulse. She could feel the blood rushing through her head. She felt so weak, so tired, the feelings from last night returned to her, when she was been thrown onto the ground by the youma. Everything was spinning around her…

"Odango? Hey, Odango?" Called a voice, far away…

She felt so sick. But she kept on walking. Her legs were guiding her, she just wanted to get away. But why? Why was she doing this?

Someone was saying her name, over and over. But she ignored it. It just…all didn't matter anymore. Why did it matter? What was it that made her feel like this in the first place? She stopped, her legs stopped guiding her, without realizing.

Nothing mattered. None of it made sense.

She gasped for air, trying to control…it. She buried her head in one hand, while the other rubbed one of her temples, and crouched down to the ground. She heard herself sob—that desperate, pathetic noise she made, she hated it. I'm weak. I can't control it. I can't do anything about it! Why? Why did it have to be her? Why couldn't she be normal? Why, had she been cursed with all this? She never asked for this…she never asked for the countless scars and bruises left on her body, she never asked to play the hero. She never wanted to be saved by some mysterious guy in a cape every time she's on the verge of dying. She never wanted to nearly die every week! She never asked to see how hideous greed and jealousy are. She never asked to have him on her mind every waking moment of her day.

It was still a burden, no matter what she hoped for last night.

Her body shook as she sobbed, but slowly, everything around her was becoming more real. Her senses returned to her. The buzzing in her ears stopped. She felt her tears making their way down her cheeks and onto her lips. The sweet air burned her lungs. There was a hand on her back, and she sensed someone squatting beside her. "Usagi…" He whispered. It felt…good. It felt comfortable. She didn't stop crying, she couldn't swallow her emotions back inside, and she didn't want to. He pulled her closer, into his chest, and let his warmth surround her. Wrapping his arms around her, he let her bury her head in his chest. " It's okay…it's okay, Usagi." They rocked back and forth, back and forth, like a parent comforting his vulnerable little girl who'd fell and hurt her knees…or a good friend trying to tell her that some boy wasn't worth it.

She was vulnerable, wasn't she?

Eventually, she stopped sobbing, suddenly becoming aware of not only his comforting warmth, but his scent as well, which was equally comforting. Her tears soaked through his black sweater, under his green blazer. Wait a minute…For the first time since her breakdown, it registered in her mind who it was that got his arms around her. Abruptly, she broke free from him—and missed his warmth instantly, much to her regret—and looked up to this person that had been silently watching her all along. Her eyes met his sincere blue ones. Once knowing for sure who this was, she immediately got up, her face beaming red from the embarrassment, hands clinging onto the fabric of her skirt. The only sound that came from her were the sound of her sniffles, the result of her hard sobbing, while she stood there, head down, staring at her feet, which were shifting awkwardly on the ground. Finally daring to look at his face, she caught the sight of his sincere, but worried smile that replaced his usual proud, scornful expression.

Being a little uncomfortable as well, he cleared his throat, "So… uh, are you- I mean, what…um, you want me to take you home?"

She shook her head quietly.

"Er…okay. But you have to go home. I mean…are you sick or something? Do you want me to take you to the doctor?…Usagi?"

Silence hung in the air like a bag of wet sand. Usagi, obviously still embarrassed, shook her head again and stretched her cheek muscles to show a tight smile, hoping he'd buy it.

No such luck. Mamoru gave an exasperated sigh and walked a step towards Usagi, closing the gap that had formed between them unawared. "Usagi, is something the matter? You can tell me."

She found herself shaking her head once again. "Nothing." She simply said, trying to sound confident. I'm just…so tired, that's all. I just need to get way from all this.

He studied her with a concerned expression. After a few seconds, he said: "But…if you're not feeling well you need to go home. Or do you want me to take you somewhere else, so that we can…talk or something?"

That's right. I'm sick of this. And it's not like I can just talk myself out of this. "No…I don't need to talk. But thank you." She turned and started walking away. She didn't need to bring him into this. No matter how nice it just felt…having to cry in his arms like that. She wanted someone to talk to, she really did. But she had to resist bringing anyone into this.

"Wait Usagi!" She felt a hand grab hers. She whipped her head around to face him. "Where are you going?" Asked Mamoru, with a glimpse of fear in his voice.

" No where."

He sighed. " Was it me? Was it what I said? Was it how I always made fun of you? Because…well, I'm sorry. I'm sorry…"

Finding herself a little irritated, she replied: "No…it's not you. God…this has nothing to do with you. Not everything's about you, you know."

Looking ashamed, he looked away. "Oh…Sorry, I thought…so you just weren't feeling well, huh?"

Usagi bit her tongue to hold back a sarcastic remark.

"So…I can give you a ride somewhere, if you want." He paused. "I don't even have to take you home."

Usagi looked at his car, which was parked right beside them. She had an idea. "Can you…take me to my school then?" she asked timidly.

A look of surprise took over Mamoru's face, but this time, no sarcastic remarks. "Sure." He said with some hesitation.

The got into his car. Mamoru started the car but didn't step on it immediately. "Are you sure you want to go to school? I mean…after all that's happened?"

She only nodded.

"Very well…" He sighed and moved the car.

The ride was filled with silence. Mamoru tried to concentrate on the road and turned to look at the blonde sitting beside him once in a while. The whole time, she had been looking down at her uniform skirt, not making a sound. He didn't want to push her any further, and hoped that whatever it was, she could make it on her own. If today would be like any other day, he'd still see her this afternoon at the arcade. Hopefully by then she'd be less intense. Or maybe he was being over reactive, girls cried for no reason all the time right? Maybe Usagi was just having a bad morning.

Besides, he could always find out something from her friends.

For the thousandth time of that day, he sighed. As if he didn't have enough on his mind already, and now there was Usagi to worry about. Not that he was being selfish or anything…but Usagi's problems, whatever they were, were far smaller than that of his own. Seeing her this way today, seeing the drastic change in her personality, somehow reminded him of…Sailor Moon; the way she'd helplessly laying on the ground—she seemed so weak, so vulnerable, so…needed to be protected. He knew there was not the slightest bit of resemblance between Usagi and her, the situations they were in were so completely different—Usagi probably just got depressed because she failed another test or something, while Sailor Moon is risking her life to protect the city—but somehow, their weak side reminded him of each other so much.

Mean while, he hoped that Sailor Moon is resting somewhere safe now, seeing as how last night certainly did a number on her. He wondered if they would meet again tonight, since the youmas appear more often than ever now.

The view of the school was now in sight, directly ahead, interrupting Mamoru's thoughts. "Hey Usagi?"

She looked up, first to the direction of her school, then turned to him.

"Why do you want to go to school so badly today?"

She shrugged. "I have to see my friends."

"I see." He stopped the car on the side of the road and shut off the engine. "Well your body is pretty important too. So don't put your health in danger just to see your friends." And smiled, while Usagi unbuckled her seatbelt.

She reached for the door, when he called, "Usagi."

Turning her head around, fingers still on the handle of the door, she looked at him.

"It's not…something at home, is it?"

"No." She opened the door and stepped out. "Thank you for the ride." Like that, she closed the door gently and walked away.

Mamoru waited till she entered the building and sat there a few more seconds, before finally backing out his car to catch his morning class, which already started 30 minutes ago.

Please review! And remember—flames are motivating criticism to me!

God Bless and happy New Year!

The one, the only,

Gugugaga