It was finally Usagi and the girl's graduation. Their families were seated in the assigned chairs behind the graduates. Each student would be called to receive their diploma on stage, and their parents would be there to greet them at the bottom. After each student had gotten his or her diploma, the school song would be sung, and the students would finally be free of Juuban High.

Although Usagi was a bit sad to know that Mamoru couldn't sit with her parents or the rest of the guests because of his reputation, she knew he was there watching her in the shadows. She had caught a glimpse of him before the ceremony, after all.

She had told her friends about what happened with her family. They were happy for her and supported the two of them. They truly accepted him now, and she was thrilled to know this. Mamoru's relationship with her father was still a bit strained though, but her mother and aunt were more than accepting of him. She was very thankful for that. If it weren't for them, she might not have been able to take her father's sometimes disapproving glances in Mamoru's direction.

She couldn't wait for the ceremony to end. She had promised to spend lunch with her family, but she had been allowed to go out for dinner with Mamoru. She was so excited. She didn't know what would happen now that she was no longer a high school student, but as long as Mamoru was with her, she was sure she could manage. Now, if only the ceremony would go by just a bit faster.

As the last notes of the school song finally floated away, Usagi was more than ready to leave. She and her friends took countless pictures together in the gardens outside the school building before Usagi made her way over to her family. She was only a few feet away from them when a shot rang out within the school walls.

People started screaming and running to get away from the entrance to the school where a group of almost twenty men stood with firearms. Usagi tried to look for Mamoru, only to find him already in front of her, holding her tightly. He whispered for her to take her friends and family to the back of the school where Kunzite and the others were, so that they could lead them to safety. But, Usagi looked worriedly at Mamoru.

"How about you, Mamo-chan?"

He smiled at her in a reassuring manner, "Don't worry about me, Usako. I'll take care of these men, then I'll come for you."

"Demo, Mamo-chan –"

He kissed her lightly. "I promised, didn't I? I'll always return to you. Now go, please."

Reluctantly, Usagi drew her family and friends away from the fight, mingling with the already running people so as not to call attention to them. For some reason, she couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen to Mamoru. She was so worried that she wasn't quite watching where she was going until she bumped into Jadeite.

"Yo, Princess. You okay?" Jadeite asked, seeing the worry in the young girl's eyes.

"Jade-kun, I'm worried about Mamo-chan. I don't know why, but I feel like something bad will happen to him." Usagi bit her lip.

Hearing the blonde's fears, Kunzite approached the two, "Don't worry. I'm going to go back for him. I'll make sure nothing happens to the Prince."

Usagi nodded, but she was still rather bothered. Zoicite and Nephrite quickly and quietly led the people out of the school. As they moved further away, Usagi couldn't help looking back at the building, the restless feeling in her pounding hard against her chest. Finally, unable to stand it any longer, she broke away from the group and rushed back to where her love was.

Upon reaching the clearing where she parted with her boyfriend, Usagi's heart almost stopped at the scene before her. Mamoru was surrounded by fifteen men, all with their guns pointing at him. Kunzite and Jadeite were unable to do anything as each had two men holding them at gunpoint as well. Usagi was so scared for the dark-haired leader of the Midnight Rose that she wasn't thinking at all as she ran towards him, shouting his name.

"Mamo-chan!"

At her cry almost all the men on the field turned towards her. Mamoru's eyes widened upon seeing his love running towards him and danger. Without wasting a second of her distraction, Mamoru successfully took down almost five men, and Kunzite and Jadeite took down the four who had their guns at them. The man standing away from the group, obviously the leader of the gang, began shouting for his men to shoot at the members of the Midnight Rose. Usagi looked worriedly to where she had last seen Mamoru, unaware of the man with his gun pointed at her. Mamoru spotted the man just as he pulled the trigger. With a surprising amount of speed, he managed to take the bullet before it reached his angel.

"Mamo-chan!" Usagi screamed, as she saw Mamoru take the shot meant for her.

Before she could run to him, he lunged at the man who had tried to kill his Usako, killing him almost immediately. It only took a few more minutes before more members of the Midnight Rose came and took care of the remaining opponents. Without paying any more attention to ongoing battle, Usagi rushed towards her wounded Prince.

"Mamo-chan, I'm so sorry! You told me to leave, but I didn't, and now you're hurt because of me," Usagi cried as she held on to Mamoru's bleeding body.

"Shh, Usako. Don't cry. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't just be bleeding. So, thank you, Usako," he tried to soothe her.

"Are you hurt? Did you get hit? Where are your family and your friends?" he suddenly worried.

Usako held on to his hand, which was caressing her cheek. "I'm fine; they're fine. I just… I had this feeling that something bad was going to happen to you. I couldn't… I just had to come back and check. When I saw you surrounded like that, I was so worried I was going to lose you. I was so scared, Mamo-chan!"

The tears she cried tugged at Mamoru's heart. "I'm alive, Usako. I'm okay; don't cry. I won't leave you, remember?"

She only cried harder as Mamoru pulled her into his embrace, kissing the top of her head to soothe her tears. It wasn't long after that when Kunzite and Jadeite came over to check on them, reporting to their leader that the gang's members had properly been disposed of.

He nodded at them, and Kunzite said, "Apologies, Prince. We weren't able to protect you nor the Princess."

Mamoru looked kindly at his friend's guilty faces. "It's neither of your faults. I'm fine, and so is Usako. That's all that matters."

Zoicite approached then, "Let me see your wound. We should be able to extract the bullet and patch it up rather quickly as long as it hasn't hit any vital organs."

Usagi moved carefully to allow Zoicite space to treat Mamoru. She kept her hold on him still though. As the blonde-haired man took care of her boyfriend, she turned to the two other men standing beside them.

"Kunz-kun, Jade-kun, arigatou for helping Mamo-chan," she said earnestly.

The two men were surprised at her honest thanks, feeling themselves unworthy of it, but her smile dispelled their protests. They merely nodded at her, and contented themselves with making sure their Prince was truly okay.

After Zoicite had cleaned up the wound, Usagi thanked him as well and proceeded to help Mamoru stand. The four men and Usagi then made their way over to her house, where Zoicite had explained Nephrite had taken her family and friends. Upon reaching the building, Usagi didn't hesitate to invite them inside, as she went to check on her loved ones.

"Usagi-chan/Usa-chan/Usagi!" They all screamed as they saw her, enveloping her in various hugs. Nephrite had been standing to the side watching over them.

"Guys, I'm fine, I'm fine. Please, Mamo-chan's hurt. Can he sit down?" With those words, Usagi moved Mamoru, so that he was sitting on the couch. He refused to let her go though, so she ended up sitting on his lap, though still mindful of his wound.

Ikuko figured that everyone was tired after the rattling events a few hours prior; hence, she offered for them to have lunch with the family. Usagi's friends, once they were sure Usagi was really all right, declined and said that they had to return to their own families. They bade the Tsukinos and the members of the Midnight Rose farewell before each taking their leave. But, the blue-eyed girl noticed the way each of her friends paid a lingering glance to some of the gang's elite guard, and she nudged Mamoru, pointing it out. He gave her an appraising smirk before ordering his friends to safely guide each of the girls home.

When the rest of the people left, Ikuko went on to prepare the meal, insisting that Mamoru join them. Although Kenji wasn't thrilled about the idea, he admitted that Mamoru had protected his daughter and thus, he owed the man at least some form of gratitude. Once lunch was over with, however, Usagi was hesitant to let Mamoru go. She knew they wouldn't be able to have dinner together because of his wound. He needed to rest, after all. But, she wanted to stay with him a bit longer.

At the suggestion of her aunt, she and Mamoru decided to spend the afternoon alone together in the nearby park. With the promise of taking her back home before it got too dark, Mamoru and Usagi headed to the grassy area, choosing to take a seat on the bench by the roses. After cuddling for a while in silence, Usagi spoke up.

"Mamo-chan?"

"Hai, Usako?"

"I love you, you know?"

"Yes, I do. And I love you, Usako, very much."

They were silent for a minute before Usagi giggled softly. Mamoru looked at her, puzzled. She giggled again before replying, "I always dreamed I'd fall in love with a prince. He'd come riding on his strong white steed and sweep me off my feet. I never expected to fall for a gangster instead, much less the infamous leader of the Midnight Rose. I remember when you told me that the first time we met, and I didn't know what to do. I'm just glad that I didn't stop arguing with you, because then I wouldn't be as happy as I am now. And, I've decided, my dream just can't compare to this. I've found my Prince."

She smiled at him, and Mamoru couldn't help kissing her with all the love in him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back with just as much fervor. When they finally broke apart, Mamoru presented her a rose, suspiciously absent of thorns.

"And you, my Princess, are more than I could have ever dreamed of."