AN: I realize this is coming out really fast. But I'm writing it really fast, so it stands to reason... When I get really excited about an idea and run with it, I usually do it quickly unless it's a long drawn out affair. I know I said last chapter that I was working on the last chapter, but I've decided to drag this out to four chapters. Perhaps four chapters and an epilogue. We'll see.

I can't thank you all enough for your kind words and all the of favorites/follows. So exciting that someone is enjoying my story :)

When September Ends
By: Bethany

Chapter 3

Mamoru kept to the shadows as only Tuxedo Kamen could really pull off. Usagi was walking to school, instead of running. An unusual occurrence in and of its self. Luna padded along beside her, listening to Usagi describe something in such minute detail that her hands were waving front of her. Mamoru couldn't hear her exact words, just the gentle humming of her beautiful voice in his ears. When she finished she chewed her bottom lip a little, twisted a strain of hair. Whatever it was she was talking about worried her.

She caught up with Ami and Makoto a little ways from the school. Mamoru felt a breath of relief. The Senshi could protect her in school; she was safe until this afternoon. It would be a long day of waiting.

Mamoru felt pretty comfortable skipping classes today. He had already heard the lecture twice and even if he didn't have his notes it was more important that nothing get in the way of him being at the arcade before Usagi showed up. He leaned his back against the side of the alley way, running over the options in his head. Whatever path he took, he had no doubt he could keep Usagi from going into the arcade and that seemed to be the only way to keep her safe.

His watch read three o'clock and within seconds the school bell chimed across the building. Students started pouring out of the exits, their excited voices rising as they flooded onto the streets. Mamoru stepped out of the alley way, searching the crowd for the familiar hair style. It was with a shock of apprehension when he caught sight of Makoto and Ami without Usagi with them.

"Mamoru-san," Ami greeted as he jogged up to them.

"Where's Usak—gi?" His eyes wondered over the crowd again.

Ami and Makoto gave each other a split second confused look. Makoto tilted her head slightly. "She didn't feel good and went home early."

The Prince of Earth let out a string of curses that caused both girls to blush, and Ami's jaw to drop, before he dashed off. Ami's wide eyes watched him. "What was that about?" she breathed.

Mamoru darted into the alley he had recently been waiting in, grabbed the fire escape ladder and climbed up it. At the top he changed into Tuxedo Kamen, pumping his legs faster and jolting off one roof to another. Within minutes he was in front of the Tsukino residence, back in his civilian form. Still trying to reign in the fear in his chest he pressed the buzzard twice.

Excruciatingly slow Usagi's mom finally answered the door, an apron over her dress and a spatula in her hand. "Yes?"

"Is Usagi home?" he asked. His voice sounded desperate even to his own ears.

"No, I'm sorry, she felt better so she went to get her home work from her friends at the arcade— Well, my goodness," Ikuko gasped when Mamoru turned and fled back down the walk way without another word. "That was Mamoru. I wonder why he's looking for Usagi?" she murmured. At her feet Luna watched the Prince running away and wondered the same thing.

Mamoru was half way to the arcade when he felt the now familiar shock of panic and fear lace his body. He slowed, grasping his head, trying to clear his vision so he could keep going. I have to get to her. I have to save her!

He rounded the corner to the arcade, his tennis shoes slapping the pavement so hard his feet stung. He could see the automatic glass doors when a blinding pain exploded in his head and he slid to his knees. The doors opened and the brown haired man ran out, a plastic bag clutched in one hand, the gun in the other. Mamoru stumbled to his feet and nearly fell into the arcade. In the distance he could hear sirens, in front of him he could hear sobbing.

He rounded the last game. Minako was sitting on the floor, Usagi's head in her lap. Blood was everywhere. Usagi's chest was still. Mamoru fell to his knees beside her. It didn't matter how many times it happened, it didn't matter that he might wake up tomorrow morning to live this again. The sight of her lifeless body lying in a pool of her own blood made Mamoru choke. Tears fell from his eyes. He scooped her up, pulled her close, rocked back and forth. "Please Usako. Please, not again. Please, please."

His hands fumbled, tilting her head back. He caught her cold lips with his, trying to force life back into her. The longer she didn't stir, the harder Mamoru tried. He could hear Rei, Ami, Minako and Makoto crying openly. Could hear the sirens stop outside the store. But he couldn't pry his arms away from her dead body.

The paramedics checked Usagi over, trying for vitals uselessly. Mamoru gently lifted her body onto the gurney. Watched with dead eyes as the sheet was draped over her body again. He shut his eyes, clinched his fists and prayed that if this really was a dream he would wake up now. He needed to wake up. Dreams didn't have this much pain, he thought. Not even nightmares felt like this.

He turned and fled from the arcade. Fled from everything. I can't save her. I'm so damned useless that even when I know what is going to happen, I can't save her. The pain burned through his system, his head pounding.

He stared at the mirror in his bathroom. The phone was ringing in the other room, but he ignored it. Blood shot eyes stared back at him. His shirt still had her blood on it. Anger welled up inside of him. He ripped the shirt off, threw it in the corner. He stumbled into his room and fell across the bed as the tears started up again. "Usako…" he moaned.

"It's six am on this beautiful last day of September. If you have plans today should be a good day to be outdoors. Tomorrow a cold front will be cutting across the area—"

Mamoru clicked the alarm off. He had been awake for about an hour. His mind spun over the events of the last few days. Of yesterday. However you wanted to look at it. The pain was gone; she was alive. The day was starting over again. Mamoru had been thinking over plans about how he would keep her safe.

Obviously fate was twisted and screwed up; and to beat fate he would have to stay a step ahead. He dressed quickly and quietly, changed into Tuxedo Kamen and with a purposeful leapt set off for the Tsukino residence.

Tuxedo Kamen waited outside Usagi's house for her to leave for school. He had initially thought of just taking her from her room, but quickly realized it may alarm her parents if she never got up for school. He would just have to wait until she left. In the hour he waited his mind tried to come up with different ways to handle this. His first thought was to pick her up and run, keeping her safe in his arms and never letting her out of his sight again.

Obviously that wouldn't work. As far as Usagi knew he didn't love her anymore. Not that it had stopped her from pleading with him every chance she got. Lately she hadn't begged him, though, had only watched sadly as he ran from her after every battle. He shook his head. This was going to be complicated. He couldn't tell her what had been happening; she'd think he was insane. If she was safe, he wouldn't really care what she thought, though.

He hadn't really made up his mind on the story before Usagi burst from her house, calling out "Bye Mama!" behind her. She held her school bag in one hand and a piece of toast in the other. Her blonde hair flew around her frame and Mamoru shook himself to keep from the scooping up and running plan.

Instead he waited until she had gotten a few blocks from her house before he appeared at the opening of an alley. Usagi did a double take, stopping and rubbing her eye. "M-Mamo-chan?"

It took all Mamoru had not to run up to her and kiss her until she fainted. He faltered, glancing both ways down the sidewalk. "I need to talk to you."

Without hesitation Usagi carefully made her way to the alley. She stopped in front of him, big blue eyes staring at him with pain and love and trust all mixed together. Mamoru swallowed. "Yes?" she prompted.

"I-" Mamoru wished he couldn't smell her perfume. It was very distracting to his train of thought. Roughly he pushed the other thoughts away. "Can you come with me?"

"Where?"

"Um." He swallowed, rubbing a hand over his chin in frustration. He honestly didn't have a good reason, aside from spilling the most unlikely – however true – story in the world. "Just, back to my place."

Usagi glanced back at the sidewalk and then at her watch. "I have to go to school. Are you ok?"

No, I need you to stay with me. I love you. I need you. Please just don't ask, come with me and don't die. Of course he could never say these things out loud. He sighed. "Yes. But I – ugh!" Being a man of actions instead of words wasn't really Mamoru's thing, but desperate times called for desperate measures. Without any warning to the petite blonde, he scooped her up in his arms and leapt to the fire escape and then the roof.

Usagi squealed in surprise, clutching her bag to her chest. She had plenty of experience being carried in Tuxedo Kamen's arms so she wasn't nervous. Curious, yes. A little cross, maybe. Even if she had no idea why, she had to admit being in his arms was very welcoming. She couldn't help but inhale his scent as she laid her head on his chest. He squeezed her tighter to him and she felt her breath catch.

They arrived at his apartment balcony within five minutes. Carefully he put her down in his living room and let go of his transformation. Usagi watched him pace back and forth in agitation. She still clutched her school bag to her chest. "Mamo-chan? What's going on?"

Mamoru ran a hand through his hair, not looking at her at first. When he did she gasped; his eyes were full of tears. "I'm sorry I did that. I didn't know what else to do."

"About what, Mamo-chan? Are you ok?"

"I am now," Mamoru replied, sitting heavily on the sofa. He motioned for her to sit next to him and she did so carefully. He turned to look at her. "Can you just stay here today? I—I can't explain it. Not yet. But I need you to stay here."

Usagi stared at him for a long moment. He stared back, unashamedly revealing his desperation. Usagi bit her lip. "Can I call Ami and let her know? So she can get my school work?"

"Yes. Of course," Mamoru nearly tripped over himself to get the cordless phone for her. He was so relieved he wanted to sag back into the cushions and hug her to him. Instead he went to the kitchen and started a pot of coffee.

Usagi was vague on the phone with Ami, promising to explain it all later. When she returned the phone to its base Mamoru was still in the kitchen, watching the coffee drip into the pot with an intense gaze. She watched him for several moments, her heart beating faster than normal. She longed to wrap her arms around him, find out what was wrong and fix it. Whatever it was, she could protect him.

"Are you hungry? I can fix us some breakfast."

"Sure," Usagi forced a smile. She hopped up on the counter, watching him pull food from the refrigerator and cabinets. She swung her legs idly. Under almost any other circumstance, this would be ideal. But at the moment she was worried and more than a little curious.

They ate breakfast at Mamoru's two person table. Mamoru wasn't saying much. Out of nerves Usagi tried to make small talk, commenting on the weather. "It's supposed to turn cold tomorrow," Mamoru mumbled; his eye brows knitted together.

"Really? I don't like the cold so much. I'll miss summer," she added wistfully. Mamoru caught her double meaning and sighed at the same time she did. "Can we watch TV?"

"Sure. You go ahead. I'll clean up." Mamoru stood and gathered their dishes.

Usagi gave him a small smile and went to the living room. She settled down on the love seat, her feet folded up under her and the remote in her hand. There wasn't anything very interesting on, but the nervous heavy silence with Mamoru was making her crazy. She laid her head down on her folded arms.

When Mamoru finished loading the dishwasher he found Usagi sitting on the end of the love seat, her head laid on her arms, asleep. He smiled, feeling warmth and calm settle in his chest. Today was the day he kept her safe. Under his watchful eye there was no way she would fall into the line of fire.

With the anxiety of the past few days melting away in her presence, Mamoru decided against sitting on the opposite sofa and squeezed on the love seat next to Usagi. He took the remote, changing the channel to a documentary. Nearly an hour later Usagi stirred, whimpering in her sleep. Mamoru leaned over her worriedly, watching her face scrunch up. He ran his finger tips down her face. She relaxed, twisting so she was lying against his side.

Mamoru froze for a moment, but really, what could it hurt? She was asleep. He had watched her die over and over in the past few days, (Day, his mind corrected. All one very long day.) he could afford to hold her. He wanted to hold her more than anything else in the world right now.

Relaxing back into the loveseat, Mamoru wrapped a protective arm around Usagi. He kissed the top of her head. "I love you," he whispered quietly. The last thing Mamoru remembered was Usagi grabbing a hold of his shirt to hold in her fist as she slept. He drifted off to the most peaceful sleep he had experienced in over a month.

When Mamoru awoke the sun was shining through his balcony doors. He blinked, looking around. The warm body that had been snuggled up against him was gone. She had been there recently; the spot next to him was still warm. Stretching, he stood. "Usako?"

There was no answering call from the bathroom or kitchen. Eyebrows furrowed, he walked out of the living room. Lying on the counter was a piece of paper with Usagi's untidy writing.

Mamo-chan,

I went to meet Ami to get my school work. Will be back soon.

Mamoru's eyes stared at the little bunny drawing at the bottom in lieu of her signature. His heart started beating and his palms grew clammy. His eyes darted to the clock on the wall. Five minutes after three. He didn't even stop to lock the door as he ran out.

There was really only one direct route from his apartment to the arcade. Mamoru flat out ran, dodging people and biting back curses. His eyes roamed over the crowds on the sidewalks, hunting for Usagi. He ran towards the arcade, nearly knocking over a man in the process. "Gomen!" he yelled back, then stopped.

The man he ran into was tall, as tall as Mamoru, had brown hair and arms covered in tattoos. His nervous brown eyes looked at Mamoru. "Watch it!" he snarled.

Before he could react, or even think of reacting, Mamoru grabbed the man by the collar and slammed him up against the wall. One arm over the man's throat, the other searching for the gun. "What the hell are you doing?" the man spat angrily.

Mamoru's eyes burned into his, his face mere inches from the man's so that he could smell the stale scent of cigarettes. "You are not killing her today," he growled. "Not again."

"What the hell are you talking about?" the man growled. "I haven't killed anyone. Yet." The barrel of the gun rose up and embedded in Mamoru's stomach. "That can change if you don't let me go."

"No!" Mamoru spat, drawing his fist back. There was a split second when Mamoru could hear the safety snap off, followed by a blast of pain. Mamoru stumbled back, his hands automatically going to his mid section. The man took off in a run down the sidewalk.

A scream penetrated Mamoru's consciousness, followed by the familiar rush of panic, fear and pain. He squinted his eyes open just as Usagi fell to her knees beside him. "Mamo-chan! Mamo-chan, open your eyes! Please!"

Blackness seeped into Mamoru's vision as he started at Usagi, trying to memorize her. He had finally succeeded. She was safe. He let out a breath that burned his entire body. "Usako… you're alive. Saved you. Finally." Blackness rushed over him and his last breath left his lungs.

-End Chapter 3.