Hi everyone, I'm back.

It took longer than I expected. But I don't know why I had such difficulty writing this chapter, even though is not very long...but still, I struggled with it a lot.

I hope you all like this chapter. A lot of people have asked me how Usagi and Mamoru have met. I don't like to let out all the information about the characters right in one chapter or two. I like their characteristics and emotional states develop as the story goes on. I try not to leave any crucial information out, and so, be patient; you will know eventually how they've met and where the story is going.

The same goes for Mamoru and what their group is doing. I'm not sure if I explained this in the last chapter, but the word "Bancho" in Japanese apparently refers to a leader of juvenile delinquents in middle and high schools. And even though the terminology is long gone since the 70's, but I still found it fascinating. So, now you can see what Mamoru really is and what their actions mean.

TropicalRemix: well, you'll know in this chapter Enjoy.

Gabicg93: I'm sorry about the 'dark Mamoru'. But to be quite honest with you, I like his character (not that I like self-destructive individuals), but I think his character and his emotional boundaries will play a nice role in this story. Stay with me till the end Enjoy.

Serenitysweety: You're always so kind. And I take so much pleasure is reading your positive reviews. Thank you so much. Enjoy this chapter.

Tryntee13: Well, sometimes you need to actually take a few steps back to gain your composure and continue forward Maybe this chapter will satisfy the Usagi/Mamoru relationship growth a little bit. I hope you enjoy it.

Chaoticwisdom: I know:D:D:D

Princess Raena SS: Not quite. Read this chapter, and some of your questions will be answered. Let me know what you think. Enjoy.

Guest: Thank you so much for reading my story. And I love you too dear reader

Ruk: I understand what you're saying, and I also agree and no one (female or male) should stay in a controlling relationship. However, I also believe that every person's mind operates differently. You can't say that everyone should agree on the standards of a normal relationship. What is normal to you and I, might be self-destructive and controlling to someone else and vice versa. I also think that there are so many guys out there that think the same way as Mamoru is acting in this story. They think that it's okay for them to sleep around (merely because they can have sex with someone without getting attached to them) and women are simply not allowed to do so, because, and I quote a male example, "women are emotional and most of the time they say it's just sex, but they will get attached and have expectations afterwards."! Anyways, I'm not trying to justify an ideology here, I'm just a writer with different ideas and various characteristics for people in my stories. I hope you stay until the end. There are so many layers in people, and I will try to play around with that fact. Enjoy.

Evil Uncle Abram: Hey my friend, long time no review I refer you to my reply to Ruk's review then. I'm surprised though that you would think so; specifically because of the nature of your own story (Money Making), but hey, I don't have anything against anyone's writings Enjoy this chapter.

PS: This chapter was edited by my super awesome, super detailed beta-reader BrownB. Apparently, my knowledge of "hospital" language is very poor and therefore, with BrownB's guidance, I was able to make this chapter closer to reality and made with actual facts. Initially, I had said that Usagi did not have any concussion, but as it turned out if she didn't have any kind of "alarming" status, the hospital wouldn't keep her overnight for just a tiny "cut" on the head. And because her stay at the hospital overnight was very crucial to the story flow, I rewrote this part.

Enjoy Everyone.

The constant sound of a slow "beep-beep" was driving her insane. She couldn't understand where that stupid sound was coming from; all she knew was that it was driving her mad.

She slowly opened her eyes, shutting them almost instantly against the cruel light. 'It's no use', she thought to herself, 'that stupid sound just won't stop'.

"Tsukino-san?" she heard a feminine voice calling, "Tsukino-san? Can you hear me?" The voice, although calm and collected, but it still held an undertone of worry; it stirred something in Usagi's heart and she suddenly had this urge to free this person, whoever she was, of her concerns.

Her eyes fluttered open again, this time as slowly as possible; shielding their sensitivity against the white light. The small face with delicate features was a blur at first; she had to blink several times to make out a round face with soft curly black hair and gentle brown eyes. "Tsukino-san? Can you hear me?" she asked again, this time a little louder, as she hovered over her face.

Usagi couldn't find her voice; her throat just seemed so dry...she settled for a small nod and immediately winced with the strong pang of pain at the back of her head. Tears rushed to her eyes.

"Try not to move too much Tsukino-san. Do you know where you are?" the woman asked, and seeing Usagi's confused half lidded eyes she shook her head gently. "You're at the Tokyo General Hospital. Do you remember what happened?" she reached out her warm hand and touched Usagi's cheek, in a motherly gesture.

"No...," her voice was hoarse, and uttering that tiny word hurt a lot, but she really wanted to know why she was at the hospital. What happened to her?

The nurse smiled a little and checked her IV before meeting her eyes. "There was a small accident, nothing major really, but you were pushed against a wall..."

And that's all it took really, for all the memories to come crashing back to Usagi like a slideshow.

She saw herself walking down the street, a few blocks away from the school, on her daily route to the arcade. She remembered hearing Yoshiro's sarcastic snicker when he sneaked up on her from behind. "Where are you going?" he had asked, a dangerous smirk plastered on his face. "It's none of your business," she had spit back while walking away.

"Hot date behind the alley?" his question hadn't surprised her that much; she knew the games Yoshiro liked to play and she wasn't going to satisfy his bullying nature by losing her temper. "What's it to you?" she had said with a blank stare, and she knew that she had startled him a bit. "Well, you seem like an easy kind, so it's only possible for you to do such a thing," he had grinned an ugly smile, "and I'm just wondering, why not let me play with you a little?"

She had spun around quickly and had looked at him with disgust. "How dare you?"

"Well, isn't that what you're doing with him?"

"Oh, for God's sake, just leave me alone you maniac..."

"Watch it now; I don't like to do something that I might regret,"

"What the hell would you do? You're just a bully, and just so you know, I'm not afraid of you."

Somewhere along the way, Usagi had lost her patience. She had contemplated for a second whether she should slap him right in the face.

"Hey, you!"

They both had seized their heated words to turn their heads and look at the person who had interrupted their fight. Usagi had to blink rapidly a few times to believe her own eyes. Because there, only a few steps away from them stood Mamoru's blond friend. She didn't even know his name...so what was he doing here? She had seen him what? Two or three times at the arcade and once or twice at the park? Most of which had ended in his teasing words and annoying smirks...why was he even talking to them?

"Don't you think it's a little bit humiliating to cat fight with a little girl?" he had said while staring right into Yoshiro's eyes. His gym bag was crossed over his shoulder and his dirty blonde hair was still a bit damp with sweat.

"Who the hell are you?" Yoshiro had hissed under his breath; his annoyed expression was giving away the turmoil inside.

"Tsk, tsk... you need manners I see..." The guy hadn't flinch; he had just stood there, calm and collected...just like him.

"Butt out of my business dude...I don't like being interrupted." Yoshiro had taken a step towards Usagi while his hand had grasped her tiny wrist in a firm grip. "This is between me and her...so leave."

Usagi's wiggling had stopped immediately when she had heard the blonds' serious voice. "Unhand her...now." There was just something about that voice that had given her the chills.

"And what if I don't?"

In only a blink of an eye, Yoshiro's hold on Usagi was lost and the blond had his collar in a death grip, looking at him and challenging him to dare say another word. "Trust me, you don't wanna mess with me," he whispered almost as if the line was an everyday monolog for him. And somehow after exchanging a few incoherent stares and hissed threats, they were engaged in a fistfight.

Usagi's legs were rooted on the spot. She hadn't even moved a muscle, even though she knew it was probably better to escape the scene. Instead, she had found herself shouting at them, demanding them to stop acting like savages; she had even tried a couple of times to pull them apart while cursing a few bystanders who had fled the scene after her angry callouts.

And that's when it happened.

Usagi could still vividly remember how she was pushed almost brutally against the wall...and it was her own damn fault. Those two had been like roaring lions; of course, they wouldn't have time to anticipate her flying figure against Yoshiro's back; how silly of her, thinking that she could pull him away.

The stinging blow that had gone through her body, starting from somewhere at the back of her head all the way to her lower stomach was still fresh in her mind.

She could only remember the loud voices after that, Minako's cry outs, a masculine voice trying to get her attention ...and stains of blood on her hand.

"Where is my friend?" she asked the nurse, this time a bit more audible, "I think...she was there."

"Your friends are waiting outside, so are your parents," the nurse said to her with a gentle smile. "You need rest, but they're extremely worried, so I'll let them in. But they can't stay for too long, okay?" Usagi nodded her understanding before the nurse disappeared behind the door and a few minutes later, an environment of loud sounds, indistinctive prayers, and distinctive happiness were surrounding the whole room.

"OH, MY GOD, MY BABY!" her mother pushed everyone to the side in her rushed attempt to get to her daughter. Her always-dramatic father shed tears of joy for her well-being and some angry ones of why this had happened in the first place. Her friends had different reactions. Minako's puffy eyes and little red nose told her miles of what her friend had gone through. Makoto's angry stance didn't have much strength compared to her tear-filled eyes. Rei's colorless face was challenging her calm exterior and Ami's soft and relieved sigh was just like her personality; always serene and knowing.

Usagi allowed everyone to hug her; they probably needed some physical assurance that she was all right and in one piece after all.

Makoto had stepped back after giving Usagi a bone crushing hug, allowing Rei to step forward and envelope her friend. "Motoki is outside," Rei whispered in Usagi's ear, "I told him to stay put till your dad leaves," she smirked against Usagi's cheek after giving her a gentle kiss on the cheek. Usagi's whole face turned red but she looked at her friend with gratitude.

"What happened Minako-chan? I mean I know what happened, what I want to know is what happened after that."

Everyone turned their attention to the beautiful blonde sitting at the window. Minako sighed and started the story that she had probably shared a hundred times that day for different ears, "That guy, the one who was fighting with Yoshiro-baka..." she immediately cast an apologizing stare at Usagi's parents, "sorry," she mumbled, but continued anyways, "he took you to the hospital, I mean, even Yoshiro-baka..." another sheepish stare, "even he tagged along. Though I wanted to punch him a couple of hundred times," she sighed again, looking around the room, "Anyways, we came to the hospital and they took you for different exams and I called everyone else." She looked back at Usagi with sorrowful eyes. "They said it was just a tiny cut but you have a grade two concussion…," she held her eyes on Usagi and her face fell again. "I'm so sorry I couldn't be there faster Usa-chan...I...it was horrible..." Minako's voice trailed off as she fixed her stare at the ground, trying to push away all those images of Usagi's unconscious body and all the blood.

"It's not your fault Mina-chan..." Usagi said in a low voice, "I'm just so grateful that you were there..." she stared at her friend until Minako's cornflower eyes met hers, "Arigato Mina-P..."

Minako's dejected face lit up with a tiny smile.

It was a good half an hour after everyone had emptied her room when the door clicked open slowly and Motoki's tall figured slid inside.

Usagi was half sitting on the bed, three big pillows positioned behind her to aid with her neck and shoulders. Her tiny figure was covered with a light blue blanket. Her face was turned towards the window. The visiting hours were over and the sun was setting somewhere in the far west of the building.

"Usa?" came Motoki's voice from the door, and she turned her head slowly to avoid increasing the headache she had and looked at him, "Toki...," and the tears came.

He took three long strides as he reached out his arms and gently took her small cold hands in his. "Thank God you're okay," he said, bringing her hands up to rest his lips on them. "I was worried out of my mind," he mumbled against her knuckles. He sat on the side of her bed, leaning towards her face. His thumb went up to wipe away the silent tears that were pouring down from her baby blue eyes. "Don't cry sweetheart, you're okay. Everything's okay now," he said, smiling reassuringly.

"I was so scared," she whispered as more tears escaped her eyes, "I didn't know what to do, they were just at it so bad...and then I was pushed and then...blood," her rushed and jumbled sentences spoke of her stress and the fact that the whole situation was probably just sinking in. Motoki tried to comfort her, his fingertips smearing away crystal clear tears from her cheeks, eyes focused on her shallow breathing as she explained what had happened repeatedly. "Shh...I know, it's okay Usa, calm down, yes...I know you didn't know where you were...it's okay." He slowly and carefully, as to not touch her head in any way, lifted her up by her slender shoulders and leaned down to embrace her upper body on his own. "It's just a tiny cut...it just needed a few stitches, you're not going to stay here for too long, the only reason they're holding you is because you had a tiny concussion and they just want to make sure that you're okay," he whispered against her ear as he lightly rubbed her back and trailed small kisses on her neck and temple. Usagi's hands that had been clutching the back of his shirt tightly, relaxed in their demeanor; she continued to cry while taking refuge in the warmth of her boyfriend's body and Motoki didn't seize his soothing words and kisses until her breathing relaxed as well and her hands lost their hold on him completely.

He pushed her back on the pillows, knowing too well that the painkillers had done their course and now she could hopefully get a good night's rest. He watched her porcelain cheeks, shadows by her long thick eyelashes that were still dewed by tears. He pushed away a strand of golden hair away from her forehead before leaning down and brushing his lips against the spot. "Get some rest sweetheart, I'll see you tomorrow."

He made sure to cover her body with the blanket, tucking in her cold hands while trying so hard to forget all the horrific images that had rushed into his head when he had received that call from Rei, telling him frantically that Usagi was rushed to the hospital. He hadn't even wasted time to explain to Unazuki why he was leaving the arcade as he had shred off his apron and ran out the door.

He sighed remembering how Ami and Rei had convinced him that it was probably not a good idea to burst into Usagi's room in front of her dad; Kenji was mortified of what had happened to his little princess, and beyond mad...there was no point of making him any angrier.

Motoki took a final glance at the sleeping teenager on the bed. And suddenly cursed himself...why hadn't he thought of bringing her flowers? She was in a freaking hospital, in a dull room with cold colors...so unlike her own fun and colorful pink room. She could easily get depressed by spending only two days in that place.

"Tomorrow," he told himself.

He left the room and shut the door quietly behind him.

Daiki slowly entered his apartment. He dropped his gym bag against the wall before taking off his shoes and walking lazily through the narrow hallway. He wasn't even surprised when he saw his visitor watching television. "You know, when I gave you the spare key and told you that it was for emergency purposes, the word "emergency" was actually the key point," he smirked and made his way to the kitchen.

He heard her firm footsteps following him. He took out a bottle of water from the fridge before turning around and meeting her stern stare.

"So, what happened?" Hisa asked, following his movements through the small kitchen.

"Well, good day to you too beautiful," he half mocked.

"Cut it out baka, what happened? Did they question you?" she crossed her arms over her chest and tried to remember whether he had mentioned anything about the police questioning when he had called.

"Nothing happened. I told you, it wasn't my fault," he answered nonchalantly, pushing his way out of the kitchen without meeting her eyes.

"Well, it really doesn't matter whether it was your fucking fault or not, now does it? Do you not understand that we need to lay low right now? You can't go around do things like this and get caught. We can't risk anything..."

"It didn't have anything to do with Taiki brothers and you know it. I told you over the phone, I just gave a piece of my mind to a loser kid, nothing else," he sighed with irritation as he laid down on the couch.

"You call that a 'nothing'? You sent that girl to the hospital, how's that nothing, you moron?" Hisa was obviously angry and frustrated as hell. She just hated it when she would get a quick call, heard a few choice words about his whereabouts, without any further explanation; and she somehow always ended up cleaning up Daiki's mess.

"I didn't push her, that little dolt did. And it wasn't even his fault, she just jumped out of nowhere on his back. It was only his fucking reflexes," he shut his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Well, try to explain that to Mamoru," she taunted, still hovering above him on the couch.

"What did he say?" Daiki's eyes flew open immediately as he looked at Hisa with a small frown. "How did he react?"

"How do you think? He really is stupid sometimes...still thinks he's in the hiding about her. I mean seriously, does he think that low of our intelligence? I mean, I can see why he would think so about you, but..."

"What did he say? Jeez, you're worse than my mom," the words came out before he could refrain them. The heavy slap to his forehead jolted him out of his lazy state.

"What the fuck," he half shouted, his hands going up to nurse the painful spot, "how many times do I should tell you, stop hitting me on my head... bitch," he whined.

"And I told you not to compare me to that old witch," she put her hands on her hips and walked away from the couch.

After a few moments of silence, where only Daiki's mumbled swearing was heard, Hisa returned with a small ice pack.

"He didn't say anything. He just left." She handed him the ice pack and sat on the coffee table in front of the couch.

"But his eyes looked dangerous."

The corridors were almost empty; save for the middle-aged janitor who was wiping the floors quietly while singing to himself inaudibly. The occasional whispering of the night shift nurses and the distant phone ring down the west hall were too small of an interruption to the patients.

Mamoru walked slowly and silently through it all. Looking over the room numbers with a small frown on his young face as he repeated the number the head nurse had given him in his head.

Room 181.

He looked around the corridor carefully, knowing too well that she was alone inside. He had witnessed her parents' departure first handily...and then the arcade owner's a while after.

The door cracked open with a gentle thud, and he was careful not to make too much sound. He didn't want her sudden reactions to attract anyone's attention.

He entered through the half-ajar door; pushing his lean frame through it, not wanting to cast a lot of light into the dimness of the room. He stopped midway to adjust his sight to the complete darkness as he tried to locate her.

She was lying on the bed on the right-hand side of the room. The light blue blanket was covering her legs and midsection. She was turned away from the door, facing the sliding glass window on the other side. She hadn't moved a muscle when the door had opened, giving him hope she was soft glow of the moon was the only light filtering through the room.

He eased his way inside; walking slowly towards her. He stood beside the bed, listening to her steady breathing and the faint sounds of tiny snores. He leaned closer to observe the bandage that was secured around her head.

Her golden bangs were covering her forehead and long strands of thick blonde hair were hiding the spot on the back. He reached out his hand and pushed away the hair to see more closely; not knowing exactly where she was hurt.

She was either a very heavy sleeper or the meds were too strong. She remained still.

And there it was; that tiny spot with stitches and shaved hair, a few inches below the crown of her head. He narrowed his eyes as he gently touched around the scar, but immediately retrieved when he felt her stir in possible pain.

He looked at her face. She seemed too white for his liking, lacking any color in her always-rosy cheeks. Her lips were slightly parted and pushed out, like a baby's. Her hands were curled under her right cheek as she rested in peace.

He looked at her with a stoic expression, trying to figure out why he was there in the first place, not liking the fact that he immediately felt like he needed to be there.

His hand went up to her face but lingered there for a moment before he decided not to pull her out of her sleep.

He sat on the chair beside the bed instead, as he continued watching her sleep. He rested his elbows on the side of the bed, leaning his head on his hands.

"He took her to the hospital," Hisa had said when she had caught up to him near his apartment. "He said her head was injured. And now the idiot is at the police station with that other idiot."

That's all she had given him. He didn't even know what had exactly happened. What business Daiki could have had with her. Why was he with her in the first place? Who was that other guy?

He saw her body shifted slightly on the bed and he looked up at her. He couldn't tell whether she was cold or in pain. But he could clearly hear her moans. He watched as her left hand tried to pull up the blanket and failed in her drowsiness.

He took the edge of the blanket in his hand and started to tuck her in when her moans became more intense.

He stood up and leaned over her once more. Her face was twisted in pain and worry, as if she was having a bad dream; a painful dream. Her shoulders were tensed up against her neck and her tiny full lips were still parted and a pained moan would escape them now and then.

He touched her forehead gently and pushed away her golden bangs. His thumb traced the line of the bandage while his long fingers soothed her hair.

She didn't calm down.

He leaned down over her and positioned his mouth against her exposed ear. "Shhhh," he whispered in her ear, "it's okay. It's just a nightmare…you're safe," he continued his light caressing.

"Leave me alone..." came her tiny voice and for a moment Mamoru thought she was awake and speaking directly to him. He leaned back slowly and watched her face. Her eyes were still shut tightly and she seemed to be out of it.

He looked at her for a moment, noticing the tiny whimpers she was letting out and something in his heart jumped. She was clearly in pain.

Chiba Mamoru was not a compassionate person; anyone who knew him was very aware of this part of his character and up until now, it never seemed important for him to have any kind of sympathy in any form. His companions and friends accepted him the way he was; the women around him were fond of him regardless of his flaws and arrogance...but this petite girl...why couldn't he get a hold of himself around her? Why was he here? Why were his insides twisting with her discomfort and pain?

He watched her tiny little face, all flawless skin, and soft edges. He laid down beside her as steady as he could and slowly, so very slowly, snaked one arm under her waist, as the other one went around her tense shoulders and he pulled her shivering body against his chest. He made sure not to touch the injured area of her head, as he comfortably rested his chin on the crown of the mass of silver-gold hair.

She continued shivering, even though his soothing hands traced along her upper arms and her flat stomach to bring her peace and warmth.

"Don't worry, it's just a nightmare," he whispered. "Everything is going to be okay," he continued.

The shivering subsided, the infrequent whimpering slowed down...and finally, she was at peace.

Mamoru held her like that for a while; his arms wrapped loosely around her slenderness, her back rested against his chest so closely that he could feel every exhale and inhale. He continued the movements of his hands as he felt her relax under his touch. He closed his eyes and brushed his lips over her hair. She smelled like hospitals and painkillers...such an unsuitable odour for her.

The room was dead silent and not even the distant noises of the outside world could have corrupted the serenity he was feeling at that moment. Being wrapped around the blonde, without her pushing him away for once, without her hateful words and confused eyes...just the two of them, at peace.

And he wished he could have stayed like that for much longer.

The sound of a busy Tokyo woke Usagi up from her deep slumber. She had been woken up twice during the night; once by the petite nurse to take her medication; the other time before that, was just a slight interruption that didn't end in her full awake; but it did make her aware of her surroundings for a second or two...and now she seemed to be unable to remember what was the cause.

All she knew that sometime during the night, she felt in utter peace. She had felt an unnatural warmth and sense of safety during the first few hours of going to sleep, and even though she had struggled with nightmares and pain all through the night, somehow, she had felt so much at ease.

And she didn't know why.

She stretched out her arms as her eyes blinked away the sleep, and she looked around the empty room. The morning light had spread its wings all the way in, and that wonderful feeling of being touched by the sun was refreshing.

She slowly sat up on the bed as she reached up and touched her injured head. She flinched with the sudden pain. But even a crybaby like her could easily handle that injury with the amount of medication she had consumed since yesterday.

She went to hang her legs from the side of the bed to try and walk a little when...something was just not quite in place.

She looked around the room carefully and tried to figure out what was bothering her. The closet on the east wall was slightly ajar and she could see the small bag her mother had brought her yesterday nestling inside.

Everything looked the same. But there was just something...

And then she saw it on the small bedside table.

A perfect red rose.

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon and its fabulous characters in any way. I wish I did. But I don't. All the delightful rights of this wonderful manga/anime and its characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi.