Hi guys! Thanks a bundles again for the reviews! But I'd love to hear the parts you liked and the parts of the chapters you could have lived without. So please keep that in mind when you're reviewing. It does two things. Makes me write better to fit the audiences taste, as well as write better for myself. Spelling mistake and stuff can be left out, because I write these stories quite late at night, so sorry if I messed it up. (TEEHEE- nervous laughter).

Well I bet that last chapter made you demand answers, and don't worry I have them on today's chapter. Oh there's going to be some mention of "stuff" (not serious stuff) but I'll be rating this chapter a R, just to be on the safe side. And just to clarify on the title of this chapter, Mizu means wind. YEAH I know, that's freaking awesome LOOOL (pretty sad how things as stupid as that makes me so happy…)

Well like always,

Enjoy!

Chapter Nineteen: A Different Wind.

The rain had dulled, and yet it sounded very loud. They were all silent, unable to say anything or move towards Mizu and a fainted Usagi. Her body was limp and dead, her face bruised. Mamoru's heart fell, finally coming to a complete stop. It had been pounding faster then he could run moments ago, until he saw Mizu come out with Usagi. He took a step forward.

"What the hell is this?" He demanded, finally gaining control of his body. He didn't want to think that he did something to Usagi, but that was the only thing his mind could conclude.

"Give me her!" Mamoru quickly rushed over to Mizu and pulled Usagi out of his arms. Mizu's eyes were hidden, as if he was ashamed of something. He said nothing to defend himself. Mamoru looked down to Usagi, laying still in his arms. The rain was making low streaks down her bruising face, and it made his heart ache. He danmed himself, if only he had run faster.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?" Rei shouted coming closer to Mamoru. Her stare was piercing. She cursed herself for getting there too late. Ami and the others came up by Mamoru to see Usagi.

"She's alright." Mizu said as Ami examined Usagi forehead and bruised cheeks. They turned to Mizu, standing before them, soaking wet. His winced alittle when he took a step. His knee was hurting. He realized he must've really kicked someone very hard if it was hurting this much.

"What happened Mizu!" Mamoru demanded in a low growl. His frustration was coming back. He had a horrible sinking feeling in him, and yet somewhere in the back of his head; he was glad that Usagi was alright. Mizu looked up at him, a weak smile on his face.

"I was so jealous of you Mamoru. You got Usagi…." He said, wincing alittle bit more at the paralyzing pain in his knee. The girls stood alert, wondering what this was all about. They didn't know who this man was, or what he had to do with Usagi and Mamoru.

"You're very lucky you know." He smiled. The clouds over head, became darker, thunder and lightning shot down giving them brief spurts of proper light. Mamoru's breathing became softer, he was starting to relax. By the defeated look in Mizu's eyes, he wasn't the culprit.

"There's six guys in there." Mizu pointed towards the empty factory he came out of.

"And?" Rei interrupted taking two steps closer to Mizu. She didn't like the feelings of missing information, and it certainly didn't make her feel very good that Mizu wasn't being straight with them.

"I messed them up pretty good." Mizu giggled a little trying to move, but his knee was badly hurting. Rei took a few more steps getting ready to hit him for being so vague.

"Are you playing with us!" She shouted at him.

"Wait…he's hurt." Minako interrupted quickly as she rushed up to her. She looked up Mizu who was now putting all his weight on his left leg, so that his right was a bit more comfortable.

"Just tell us what happened?" Minako asked. She felt she understood what had happened, and how he felt. Long ago, she fell in love with someone; but that someone was in love with someone else…someone very close to her. Mizu smiled and tried to say something when the pain became too much and his eyes rolled back in his head. Minako and Rei gasped and rushed over.

"Mercury! What's wrong with him!" Rei asserted when she got to a wet Mizu. Minako looked down and tried to push him onto to his back, that was when she noticed the blood washing from his body.

"We need to get him to a hospital!" She shouted ripping his shirt open to see a large wound on his lower stomach. Mamoru gasped, with Usagi still in his arms. He realized what had happened. Mizu wasn't there to harm her, he had saved her.

…

They had been waiting patiently in the waiting room, hoping that the doctor would come back with some good news. Mamoru was at Usagi's bed side, holding on to her hand like a lost puppy. He wouldn't know what to do without her, and if she was somehow ripped from his life again; he would just die. But he had Mizu to thank for this. He had saved her and according to the doctor; nothing serious had happened. She was hit a few times and probably became unconscious from the hits she suffered. But it was Mizu the doctor was most worried about. The wound on his stomach was large, and very serious. He had warned them all, that Mizu may not make it.

"Poor guy." Ami expressed as they waited in the waiting room. Rei nodded as did Makato. Mamoru had given them a break down of what he thought happened, and what the police had told him. Usagi was kidnapped and taken to the factory, obviously the six very badly beaten men were planning on some sinister things. But Mizu had come at the nick of time.

"But how did he know where Usagi was and that she was in danger?" Makoto asked, a finger on his chin. She had been thinking about it for a while, and she knew so was Mamoru. Yet, right now his mind was else where.

"Well it probably won't be very good to make a conclusion, especially because he did save her." Minako pointed at, and the rest of the gang agreed. They left seconds later to see if Usagi had woken up. Mamoru hadn't drank or eaten anything since they arrived to the hospital. She wasn't in any harm, and was going to be just fine; and yet he felt sick with himself. Why hadn't he rushed to save her sooner. Why didn't he protect her better.

The girls walked in quietly. He was sulked over, holding on to Usagi's hand, just staring down at her. They could tell, he wanted desperately talk to her. And wouldn't feel better until she woke up.

"Mamoru-san…" Ami whispered as she came to Usagi's side. He looked up at her.

"You need to get some rest." She added. They were all becoming very concerned for him, and could understand how terrible he felt.

"I couldn't protect her…" He sighed staring down to Usagi's bruised face. The girls were silent trying to think of something to say to him, to make him feel better.

"Mamoru-san, I understand how you feel. But the most important thing is that she is safe." Minako explained hoping that it gave him some comfort, and it did. His feelings would be far worse, had something really bad happened to her.

"Lets get you something to eat first." Minako smiled ushering the girls out of the room, so that they could give him a little bit of space to think.

"Arigato." He said feeling slightly better.

…

Usagi's parents arrived shortly after Mamoru ate. He had the hardest time explaining what he could to them, and at the same time had to confess that another man saved their daughter. Ikuko was just too happy that Usagi was fine. She danmed whatever bad luck her daughter had, and prayed that these things would stop happening to her little girl. Kenji was a bit more dramatic. He was bouncing all over the place putting up 'do not feed the usagi' signs wherever he went. It was driving Ikuko mad, and was starting to worry the doctors, some of them even thought he was an escape from the mental ward.

When the fuss had calmed down, Ikuko met with Usagi's friends, people she recognized right away. Luna explained that for people, the gap of time was ignored, and the real memories were back. She was grateful to see that Usagi had such good friends. Usagi's little brother Shouta played with Luna and Artemis, noticing how similar they looked. Minako had to explain in a very clever way, why that would be. Of course she rambled on instead about things like lions and long ago ancient sabor tooth tigers.

Throughout all that Mamoru stayed in a corner in Usagi's room, unable to leave or participate in all the friendly chatter outside. He hated himself and cursed his slow reflexes that he couldn't save his beloved.

It was then that the Doctor came back announcing that Mizu was safe and out of danger; and would recover. The girls were allowed to see him, but only one at a time. Rei went in first. Mizu was asleep though, after surgery it was expected.

Mamoru wanted to go see Mizu and thank him, but he just couldn't leave Usagi again, fear that something would happen to her the very second he left. Ikuko, Usagi's mother walked in just then with a cup of juice.

"Mamoru-san, you haven't left yet?" Ikuko smiled handing him the cup of juice. Mamoru nodded, with a faint smile on his face. She smiled up to the young man, hoping that somehow he felt a little at ease. He looked over to Usagi sleeping soundly, snoring a little (which he thought was really cute). But at the same time, it felt guilty of him to hide what he did with her from her mother. And yet, he couldn't exactly come out and say it. Ikuko walked over to Usagi's side and sat down.

"You shouldn't feel bad." She quietly confessed, surprised Mamoru.

"I know how much she means to you." She added. Mamoru swallowed hard, feeling very embarrassed. His cheeks blushed slightly as Ikuko's eyes fell on him. He wondered if she knew what had happened on the cruise, could it really be that obvious. Mamoru coughed slightly trying to say something.

"Reika-san told me what you did to those men at the arcade Mamoru-san…" She continued brushing away the stray hairs on Usagi's face. Mamoru tried to think, panicked a little. He wanted to know what Reika had said, and imagined her rambling on and on about his feelings and junk.

"S-sh-she did?" Mamoru stuttered, he felt he wanted to faint right there.

"Nobody does such damage to people like that Mamoru-san… And the only reason you did it because you…you just couldn't stand it." Ikuko's smile turned large, tears starting to form in her big soft eyes. Mamoru couldn't remember his parents, and thought that his mother would look something like Usagi's. Ikuko was the nicest mother too. He could tell she was warm and loving, and cared so much for her children.

"Now you don't have to tell my husband. But please tell me…" Ikuko asked. Mamoru heart raced a mile a second, why was she asking such a thing to be confessed. He couldn't tell her that he made love to her only daughter on that ship, and would do it again and again; and would eventually marry her. BUT how, how would he be able to say those things to her mother.

"Well…I ….you see…I…" Mamoru had never run out of words. He always had something to say, no matter what it was. But he couldn't right then. Not to Usagi's mother, not about the intimacy they shared. Ikuko's smile softened.

"You love her don't you?" She asked. It surprised him and for a brief moment he didn't know what to say. But it was a much easier question to answer then what was going through his head. He did love Usagi, a lot. More then his own love and do whatever he wanted to.

"…Yes..." He whispered finally able to look her in the eyes.

"I love her a lot…" He continued. His confession brought happy tears to Ikuko's eyes, and a sadness that her daughter was growing up so fast. Mamoru was older then Usagi, by four years, but what did age matter when it came to love. And she knew Mamoru loved her, from the first time she saw him, she could tell. He could've lied to her, and she expected a lie, but his eyes told her the truth.

"I'm glad. My daughter is very lucky." She added.

"No, I'm the one who's very lucky." Mamoru added as he walked over to Usagi's bed side. Mizu was right, he was a very lucky man. Mizu gave her attention, love and clearly meant it; and Mamoru always teased her and never really gave her proper treatment, and she loved him. A man who wasn't worthy of his love.

"She's the most wonderful person in the world…" He added looking down at his love.

"I didn't think a person like that existed in a world so grey." He sighed. Ikuko watched Mamoru closely, the way his face calmed and softened when he looked at her daughter. And even the glassy eyes. It was almost like he wanted to weep, but just wouldn't.

"Do you believe in Destiny and fate?" Ikuko suddenly asked.

"Well…"

"I do…people don't just meet for no reason." Ikuko bent down and kissed Usag's forehead gently and took Mamoru's hand in hers.

"They meet because it is fated." She smiled placing his hand on top of Usagi's. There was a silent moment in which both Mamoru and Ikuko said things of appreciation that just didn't need to be said.

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH WHAT THE?" Kenji screamed from the door seeing Mamoru's hand on Usagi's. Ikuko sighed annoyed.

"Of course there are some meeting that just aren't." Ikuko gruffily said, her left eye twitching with madness. She stormed off grabbing Kenji from the neck and shouting at him all the way down the hallway. He wanted to say things, but every one of his words were beat off with a spatula (which Mamoru wondered where she pulled it from). But it was a twitch in Usagi's hand that brought his attention back to Usagi. She moaned as she moved her head left from right. She was waking up. He's eyes lit up, he was so happy.

"Usako?" He whispered gently. Her eyes fluttered open, the sight Mamoru.

…

It wasn't very quiet in Mizu's room. His heart monitor clicking away, telling the girls he was alive. But he didn't seem alive. He was sound asleep, dreaming of a world where he was standing alone not sure where to go next, or what he should do now that he was a different man. Minako looked down at him, his expression was sad and tired.

"Poor guy…" She said quietly. Rei, Ami and Makoto came forward to his bed side feeling the same way. But still, they wondered, how did he know? They stayed quiet for awhile until they felt they should keep letting him rest. Minako turned around just before leaving him. She stared at him with sad burdened eyes. She could tell that Mizu was somebody else before, and was now someone different.

…

Usagi was eating the horrible hospital food, that tasted just scrumptious as ever. Mamoru smiled nervously at her, not believing that someone who went through so much could be eating so happily. He sat there with her until her mother came into the room. She was happy to see her little girl awake and feeling fine. She saw the large bruises on her cheeks, and almost cried, but she had to be strong for her.

"Usagi, how are you feeling?" Ikuko asked coming to the other side. Usagi wiped sauce off her face and gave her mother a brilliant smile. She should've been very upset and scared, considering when she woke up she wasn't sure if she was still in the factory.

"Doing alright." She winced a little from the pain on her cheek. It wasn't throbbing just sore. She smiled slightly to calm both her mother and Mamoru who was holding on to her free hand like a lost puppy.

"That's good. We were so worried." Ikuko leaned over and gave Usagi and nice big hug, and a kiss on her forehead. She was very proud of her daughter. Sure she wasn't the best in school, or sports or manners; but she was very brave. Usagi felt a little eerie though, with Mamoru in the room holding her hand and her mother alright with that. She blushed a little trying to get Mamoru's hand off of hers, but he just wouldn't budge. Ikuko noticed the blushing face and Mamoru's happy gaze and smiled.

"Mamoru-san has been sitting her ever since. He's taken very good care of you Usagi. You should thank him." Ikuko smiled giving a sort of wink to her girl. She gaged a little not sure how to react to what she said.

"Um…ariga-to." She stuttered trying to act like he wasn't anything to her But there was no fooling her mother, not with Mamoru's face looking like that. A big smile came on to his face too, almost laughing at her.

"Usagi, I know." Ikuko laughed. Usagi gasped and fainted comically back down, her eyes circling and her lips twitching.

…

Mizu was awake too, and trying his best to eat. But his appetite was dead and so was his body. He felt tired and aching. He was alone in his dull room, the only comfort of noise was the beating of his own heart machine. It counted away on his every heart beat, reminding him he was alive and fine. But he wondered, how was Usagi. He thought about what was going through Mamoru's head, but he must've believed he wasn't the culprit; other wise he would've been there on the cold concrete dying. He sighed using his free hand to massage his left shoulder. It was sore and bandaged up in some what of a cast. He thought he had broken it.

"Oh you're awake." Minako's voice interrupted. She stepped in with a great big smile. Mizu was surprised to see her. He didn't know who she was, but wondered if she knew him.

"Gomen, I came to check up on you. I'm glad you're awake." Minako walked over to his bed side and sat down on the empty chair. He kept looking at her, thinking of where he might have met her, because she sure was very familiar with him. He nodded agreeing, he too was very glad to be awake. He shifted a little thinking to ask her a question but instead winced at the incredible pain in his lower mid drift.

"Are you alright?" She asked feeling suddenly worried for him. He moved the sheets down from his chest, revealing a very carefully bandaged lower stomach.

"You got cut pretty badly. The doctor wasn't sure you'd make it." Minako said in her usual spunky voice. She smiled at him as he moved his eyes back to her. Who was she and why was she here.

"What happened? How did I get here?" He asked. The last thing he remembered was Mamoru demanding answers from him, and he was surrounded by a group of girls. It was raining and Usagi was in his arms, safe. But after that. Minako stared at him for a second while he thought. She wanted to ask him her own set of questions, but since he asked first.

"You passed out. Mamoru called the police and ambulance." She said wondering if she should tell him how Usagi was. But she needed to be clear on a few things herself.

"Mizu-san. Why was Usagi-chan with you?" She asked carefully. His eyes lit up.

'That's right, Usagi was with me..' He thought.

"How is she? Is she alright?" He blurted out leaning forward hoping that it was good news. Minako kept her gentle smile and nodded. He sighed and stared down to his hands touching the soft bandage around his stomach.

"I heard Ai. She was talking to someone on the other line. I've been arguing with her lately… but she just won't understand…" Mizu started explaining and a very quiet and sad tone. He felt there was more he could've done to protect Usagi, but really there wasn't.

"She met a guy on the street corner by our apartment…I followed her, and found out they had Usagi…" He continued. Minako's eyes glassed over as she heard him talk. It was painful for him, she could tell. She realized how much he loved Usagi, but the world was a horrible place; and fate had played him to get Mamoru and Usagi together. It was very tragic.

"When I got there…I thought they had done something really terrible to her…" Mizu expressed very frustrated, as if he wanted to change a few things himself.

"But luckily they hadn't, but they were getting ready to." His eyes became cold and dark, the memory of those men and their words haunting him. He cursed Ai and hoped that one day she suffers a similar fate for what she tried to do.

"I was really upset, I was so upset. How dare they try to hurt her. She didn't do anything wrong. She ..she just fell in love…" Mizu looked over to Minako, who had put the story together rather fast.

"So you beat them all up and saved Usagi-chan…and that's how you got hurt." She finished the story for him, seeing that he was having troubles. Mizu nodded. When did he become this man. A man that would risk his life for someone else, especially someone who had left his heart broken in so many pieces.

"That was very brave of you Mizu-san. Arigato." She smiled placing her hand gently on to his. It surprised him that she did that, and yet it melted a lot of his discomfort away. She was smiling at him as if she understood how much it hurt. Not the pain in his cut or shoulder, but the pain in his heart.

"For what?" He asked not sure he understood.

"For saving Usagi-chan. You didn't have to, but you did. You have a very good heart." She added sweetly. He never heard anyone call him brave or good hearted. And never did he once consider that such small worthless words, would make him feel so wonderful inside. No one had ever called him good hearted or brave, perhaps because he did nothing that was worth the words. Minako kept her hand on his, and it only made him feel better about himself.

"No. I should be thanking Usagi." He smiled, with tears starting to form in his eyes. Minako became puzzled.

"She saved me."

I hope you guys liked that. I thought I needed to give Mizu a break, since he's been very good lately LOL And Minako is sure getting close. HEHEHEHE

On the final chapter: Mamoru and Mizu patch things up with each other, and send Ai where she's always belonged, alone and in jail. Minako and Mizu, will this equal love?