Synopsis: Afraid that his dreams of Usagi dying will come true, Mamoru ends the relationship to save her, but his efforts will all be in vain when he finds out the truth; Usagi is slowly, but surely dying.

Author's notes: My deepest gratitude for all those who took the time read the story, even more so to those who took the time to leave their comments and suggestions. They really inspire me to continue writing. Special mention to the following:

KarissaLaDoe: I'm glad you like the story.

Guest: Thank you for that. I'll definitely use it. ∩( ・ω・)∩

animeLuv'Chuu: I'm so sorry to keep you at the edge of your seat. I'll update faster this time.

VMC: Awwwww. Thank you for being in love with the story. O(≧▽≦)O

James Birdsong: I hope this chapter is as groovy as the previous ones.

Guest: Yes, I'm back! *drum roll* O(≧▽≦)O

UsagiMoon: I hope this is soon enough for you. If not, I'll try to make the updates even sooner.

LoveInTheBattleField: It took me four months to update? Wow…was it too long?

TropicalRemix: Secret. Hehehehe. Actually, I still have to verify the condition with my doctor friends to make it legit. ≧(´▽`)≦

Serenity Alexandra: She really doesn't deserve all of this, but don't worry, we won't make Usagi suffer too much (I hope).

freakblueangel: Is this update soon enough?

Kate499: Yes, I'm alive! I came back from the dead due to my licensure exam. Hahahahaha. Thank you for the congratulatory remark. Yes, I will try to update faster than before. *:.。. o(≧▽≦)o .。.:*

shaydoe: Thank you for reading and leaving a comment. I will try to update soon!

Shallow Sleep

Chapter 5: My Sacrifice

Reddish orange streaks filled the sky as the sun began to set on the west. Slowly, the shadows became elongated and darkness crept. Inside his office at the local hospital, Doctor Tomoe took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose as he slumped back in his black leather chair that slightly swiveled at his weight. In front of him sat a sandy haired young man who was in his late teens who looked ghostly white, shock written all over his face.

Doctor Tomoe took a deep sigh in his mind as he closed his eyes. He has just unleashed an atomic bomb of news to the young lad, regarding the condition of one of his patient...Usagi Tsukino. He knew very well that he was not supposed to reveal anything about his patient. He recited the Hippocratic Pledge when he received his license to practice medicine and even recited it over and over again when he attended the oath taking of newly licensed doctors.

Whatever I see or hear, whether professionally or privately which ought not to be divulged I will keep secret and tell no one...

Yes, that was the specific line that he just violated. But deep inside him, he knew that the young man who sat in front deserved to know the truth. He just has to let Usagi know that he divulged the information without her consent. The white haired doctor hoped that the blond haired young lady would forgive him.

Motoki violently shook his head, snapping him back to reality. The words of the doctor echoed in his mind. ~ I don't think that would be a good idea Furuhata-san. ~ Did the doctor know that he was about to inform Mamoru about Usagi's condition? And if yes, how come for him, it wasn't a good idea?

As if reading his mind, Doctor Tomoe slightly smiled and adjusted himself on his chair. He pulled the chair to his table and sat upright.

"It would not be a good idea to inform HIM of Tuskino-san's condition, Furuhata-san." He began, emphasizing on the word him. "Do not ask me why though. It would be better if you asked Tsukino-san herself."

He stood up, placed his glasses back and out his hands on his lab coat pocket. He headed for the door and turned the silver knob with his right hand. "Let us see how Tsukino-san is doing. Shall we?" He motioned for Motoki to lead the way as he held the door. Motoki stood up, still puzzled over the doctor's statements, but decided to follow the advice to ask Usagi.

She slowly opened her azure eyes and everything was blurred. She closed her eyes and opened them once more to help her get a better vision of her surroundings. She saw immaculate white walls all around her as she turned to her left, then to her right. She saw the dextrose needle stuck to her right hand while she felt the oxygen tube on her nose. She tried to sit up straight, but felt too weak to do so. She felt a deep penetrating pain on her head and she placed her left hand on the back of her head, in hopes that it might help ease the uneasiness she felt. She blinked a couple of times, wondering how she ever got here. She remembered being on the bench in Juuban Park, crying herself over the...

~Mamo-chan...~ Her mind called out as the felt a sharp pang of pain in her chest. ~No...It's Mamoru-san from now on. ~ She painfully reminded herself. She felt a tear trickle down her face, which she quickly wiped away. She reminded herself that it was for the better. ~Mamoru-san needs someone who can be there for him...someone who will see him make it as a doctor, someone who can make him dinner when he comes home tired from his work at the hospital...~

The images of Mamoru in a doctor's white coat filled her mind. She smiled, but it pained her so much that she will never be there, even from a far to see him be the doctor he so much wished to be.

Suddenly, she head the door creak open which brought her back to the present. She quickly looked to her right and saw a white haired man whom she instantly recognized as her doctor, Doctor Tomoe. Doctor Tomoe entered the room and was trailed by...Motoki?

~ What is he doing here? ~ Usagi wondered, puzzled. ~ Does he know? ~

"Konbanwa Tsukino-san." Doctor Tomoe greeted with a smile on his face.

"Good evening as well Doctor Tomoe." Usagi greeted back, still not taking her eyes off Motoki who was right behind the doctor.

Doctor Tomoe motioned for Motoki to sit on the chair situated beside Usagi's hospital bed. "It's a good thing Furuhata-san found you, or you would have been in serious trouble my dear." Narrated the doctor as he checked on the reports hanging on the foot of Usagi's bed.

Usagi quickly looked at Motoki, still confused.

As if hearing her questions, the doctor added, "You were out in the rain and you passed out. It seems you had e very high fever. Now, it may not sound troubling, but due to your delicate condition..."

"NO!" Usagi yelled, stopping the doctor from his speech which caught both men off.

Motoki laid a hand on Usagi and held it tight, as if telling her that he already knew. "Toki-chan? You know?" She said, almost in a whisper.

Motoki merely nodded in response while the Doctor sighed. "I had to tell him Tsukino-san, or else, he would have told HIM."

Now Usagi was even more confused that ever. If she was right, Doctor Tomoe was referring to Mamoru when he said "him", but she never mentioned to anyone that he and Mamoru were no longer together.

Usagi buried her body deeper in the bed. She had some explaining to do to Motoki."I understand doctor." Was all Usagi managed to say. "I guess I have some explaining to do." Usagi added, looking at Motoki with a weak smile.

"Alright." The doctor began, sounding business like. "I need to look at a couple of things. I will send a nurse to check up on you and I will give an update as soon as I can. In the meantime, I should be calling up your mother and father, Usagi."

The young lady nodded in agreement. "Well then, you need to get some rest and plenty of food, and when I say food, I mean the healthy kind." This made Usagi giggle and the doctor slightly smile. "I shall see you in a few hours then." And with that, the doctor closed the door behind him with a click from the door lock.

"Care to explain why he didn't want Mamoru-kun to find out?" Motoki began in a semi-serious tone.

Usagi let out a sight. She had no idea how the doctor knew about Mamoru and her being over. She was definitely convinced that he was psychic or something. "Mamoru-san no longer wants to be with me." She stated as she lowered her head.

Motoki heard the deep pain and sadness enveloping her voice as she spilled the beans. His jaw dropped in disbelief. "Wh-what?" He pretended to clean his ears, as if wax build up caused him from hearing things, or made him deaf which made Usagi giggle. "Seriously Usagi-chan." He said.

"I'm being serious Toki-chan. He doesn't want to be with me anymore. "She looked at him, trying desperately to smile. "But it's good. I mean, he needs someone who can be there for him. Someone who will support him when he finally takes his Medical lessons. He..." But she stopped when Motoki suddenly hugged her tight. She felt her wall of strength, which helped her cope with the break-up and stop here from sobbing crumble.

"I know that it's not okay Usagi-chan." Motoki began with a deep, sincere voice. "I know how much you loved him." With those words, Usagi finally allowed herself to weep, to let everything out. To release the pain and anguish she kept hidden from everyone, even from herself.

He clutched his polo tightly, trying to ease the pain that he felt. He felt tears fall voluntarily from his pain filled black eyes which he did not even try to wipe away for he knew that this was not his, but someone else's pain. He ran a hand through his jet-black hair as he sat down on the couch on his living room, his face buried in his hands.

~ It's all for the best Mamoru. ~ He told himself, trying hard to convince himself that the pain and sorrow they both were going through was all worth it. ~ Remember, you said you would give up everything to keep her safe. ~

He looked at the open sliding doors that lead to his balcony. The wind wisped his sheer white curtains in, giving him a view of the enormous moon that seemed to watch him with anger for inflicting emotional pain on its princess. Mamoru walked towards his balcony and gripped the iron railings tightly.

He closed his eyes and allowed the wind to caress his face as his dream replayed in his mind.

Red light enveloped the whole area as the place shook with greater intensity and Usagi was snatched away from Mamoru's arms.

"USAKO!"

He leapt to catch her before she could get further away from him, but this mysterious force pulled her away like a child grabbing a rag doll carelessly. The sword glistened brightly, catching Mamoru's attention. He dared not remove the sword from her body, lest he made more damage in doing so, but for some reason, a cold foreboding feeling swept across his body. Usagi's body floated higher, as if the heaven called upon her.

Mamoru placed a hand over his eyes to shield him from the bright red light that seemed to originate from above. He could no longer see what was happening to her, to his beloved, but the silver thread of fate that bonded them together made him feel what she was feeling.

"NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! DON'T DO THIS TO HER!" He pleaded with so much remorse. The sword began to move slowly clockwise, inflicting unspeakable physical pain on Usagi and spiritual pain on Mamoru as they cried out in agony.

Mamoru tightly held on to his chest as his feet gave way. He gasped for breath, feeling as if the earth was momentarily deprived of oxygen. Tear fell from Mamoru's eyes at the deathly, horrific sound he heard come his beloved lips. He could feel her heart beating slower and slower as each second passed. Her life slowly slipping away. Her body gently fell from the sky and on to his arms. His mind told him not to look at her, not to gaze upon the tormented body of the young woman he married for he knew, in his rational mind that this would be forever embedded in his memory. But his heart held so much love that he needed to look at her.

He slowly looked at the blood soaked face and body of Usagi "Serenity" Tsukino Chiba and felt unspeakable pain. Her golden locks stained with her own blood were tangled and were all over her face. He gently brushed her hair away and stroked her pale and cold face. She slowly opened her eyes which took almost every ounce of strength left. Her cerulean eyes, though dull and nearly lifeless stared back at him with utmost love.

"I'm…I'm glad…I g…got…t..to be…be y…your w…w…wife Mamo…Mamo-chan." She managed to say with humour.

He quickly opened his eyes as he gasped for air. The image of Usagi dying in his arm strengthened his will to keep his distance from her to keep her safe. He weighed the consequences of his actions. He knew that Usagi would not have any trouble finding someone to replace him once she got ever the break-up. After all, she was a very charming young lady. She had this personality that seemed to light up a room. She was very optimistic and very giving of herself, not to mention that despite the fact that she was only 14, she was blooming into a very beautiful lady.

He imagined Usagi walking hand in hand with another man. He felt his blood boil as he gripped the rail tighter, depriving his hands of blood as they turned a shade of ghostly white.

~ I will love her from a distance. It's better to let someone else love her up-close as long as it keeps her safe. ~

He walked towards the picture frame that held the last picture of him and Usagi...before he had those dreams. He picked it up and gently touched the image of the smiling Usagi. Suddenly, he felt so alone, more alone the ever. He had no one in his life. His parents died, leaving him with amnesia; no memory to call his own, no happy recollection of his family.

When Usagi came into his life, he had a family. He felt loved, wanted, needed and cared for. He knelt on the floor as he held the picture frame tightly on his chest and began to weep. He knew he would never be able to love anyone like he did Usagi. She was his life, his light...his everything and he was going to give her up for sake of keeping her safe.

"Please forgive me Usako..." He pleaded brokenly to the air, hoping that the wind will bring his apology to her.

"When he told me he no longer wanted us to be together, I wanted to badly to inform him of my current medical condition..." Usagi began as she recalled the painful events of her breakup. "But" She continued. "I realized, if I told him that I was sick and he did reconsider his decision, then he would just be staying with me because he has to, out of pity, not because he wants to."

Motoki was amazed at the control that the young blond haired lady was displaying before him. He was the first hand witness to the hate-annoying relationship turned deep love relationship of his childhood best friend, Mamoru Chiba and the young girl he considered almost like a sister, Usagi Tsukino. Motoki could clearly see in Mamoru's eyes that he adored Usagi, nay, worshiped her. She brought spark in Mamoru's eyes and made him believe in other people, in opening up to others. Though the opening up part still needed great work.

"I would rather he loved someone else. Someone who could be there for him. Someone who can see him through every trial that he will face. I can't be that person." Usagi sadly said, hanging her head low.

Motoki didn't know if he wanted to kill Mamoru for breaking up with Usagi or not. He also debated with himself if he would tell Mamoru despite what Usagi was telling him. He knew deep down that Mamoru had the right to know what his ex-girlfriend was going through.

"Pardon me for a while Usagi." Motoki said, standing up from his chair. He placed his right hand in his pocket, feeling for a familiar object.

"I feel a bit hungry. I'll just go down to the canteen to grab a bite. Do you want anything?"

At the sound of the word food, Usagi's eyes lit up. "I want a burger and chocolate milkshake!" She squealed in excitement.

Motoki shook his head. Same old Usagi. "Usagi-chan, remember what Doctor Tomoe said. You need HEALTHY food, not junk food." Motoki reminded.

Usagi huffed and crossed her arms. "They are not junk food." She stuck her tongue out. "It just so happen that they don't fall under the doctor's recommendation of what I should eat, but that doesn't mean I CAN NOT eat them."

"You're right." Motoki said with a grin. "Okay, I'll bring you back a SOY chocolate milk shake" Giving emphasis on the kind of milk shake he was going to bring back. "And a Turkey Burger, less fat."

"Okay, okay. " Usagi said, throwing her hands up in the air, but quickly putting the back down when she remembered that one hand had a dextrose attached.

Motoki stepped outside and closed the door behind him. He got his cell phone from his pocket and his fingers began to automatically dial a number as he walked out of the hospital building.

"Moshi-moshi." Came the greeting.

"Mamoru-kun, we need to talk. I need to tell you something very important." Motoki began, feeling the fear and anxiety fill him. "It's about Usagi."

Yay! Done with chapter 4! I hope to get the next chapter out before school work pours in (it's still summer here in the Philippines). Thank you so much for taking the time to read, and as always, comments and suggestions are much appreciated! Until next time!