~The End of Innocence~
                        by Andrea Hui




     please, let me go....

     my friends...save me from Dimando..

     Mamoru!..help me...

      Usagi Tsukino was cold. Deathly cold. Icy drifts of stale
air blew past her face. She woke up shivering.
     Her wrists ached terribly. In fact, her entire body ached.
When she shifted her legs, she felt the sore consequences of
sleeping in an uncompromising position. How long had she been
unconscious?
     When she tried to move her wrists again, she noticed that
something rough had been scratching at her skin. She craned her
neck up, and sure enough, tough ropes secured her slim arms to a
shiny brass headboard...of the bed she lay imprisoned on.
     Usagi glanced at her surroundings and saw the image of
Crystal Tokyo outside the clear glassine walls of her prison.
The city was lifeless. Dead.
      Hollow footsteps echoed in the nearby distance. A sense
of dark foreboding washed over Usagi as she observed a slow
moving shadow walk down the dark hallway to the front of the
crystalline room. She pulled her trembling legs up to her chest
and waited. The footsteps grew slower and slower, aggravating
her until she could stand the mystery no longer.
     "Who are you?" Usagi called out.
     The figure stepped out of the opaque shadows and presented
himself. "Dimando," Usagi whispered. He had silvery white hair,
glaring grey eyes, and a smile which gave Usagi quick uneasiness.
     "I am Dimando, my dear Queen," he told Usagi in a slightly
mocking tone of voice. "Welcome to your very own palace, the Black
Moon Citadel. Isn't it gorgeous? Of course, it only flatters *your*
beauty, my lovely Majesty."
     Usagi squirmed and struggled against the ropes that bound her
to the bed. When she looked down at her body, she was shocked to
find herself clothed in a silky, lavishly ornate blue-green gown.
The outfit was complete with sparkling bands of gold across her
bosom, shimmering jewels sprinkled over her dress, and she even
felt imaginary wings attached to her back. It didn't seem fitting
nor appropriate that she was being held back by scratching ropes
which clashed with her beautiful garments.
     To her near left, she spotted her transformation brooch, still
in perfect condition and waiting for her touch. It lay close to her
hip. Usagi made a feeble attempt to reach it with her foot, feeling
her back twist with a crack as she tried with all the flexibility she
had. She gave a short, defeated cry when her attempt was unsuccessful.
Her only power so close, and yet so far away.
     Usagi couldn't transform. She was vulnerable.
     Dimando neared closer. "You are my Queen, and I am your King.
I am superior to you, and therefore, you will follow my exact
commands," he said, walking to the foot of the bed. He stood there,
staring down at Usagi's frightened face and undressing her with his
gleaming eyes.
     "Get away from me," Usagi whispered, shutting out the vision
of Dimando's disquieting glare.
     When walked to the side of the bed, Usagi swore she felt the
coldness that emanated from his damned soul.
     "Ah, is that any way to speak to your King?" Dimando
asked softly, and cupped Usagi's face in his smooth hands. His
fingers brushed over her eyelids, but she kept them closed. Her
tears ran in torrents as she sniffled quietly.
     "You aren't my King," Usagi whimpered. "Let me go!"
     Dimando laughed. "Are you serious?" he asked sarcastically.
"I have waited years for the day I could have you for myself. You
might be a lot younger now, but you are still...the same. You see,
I've watched you over the years. You and your precious Endymion.
Well, he will be no longer," he added with a laugh.
     "I am here to replace him, and I expect you to serve me the
pleasure I know you serve him."
     Usagi's heart jumped in shock, her eyes opening wide in
silent fright. "What do you mean?" she asked pitifully, drawing
her legs closer to her body.
     "I mean you must obey me...in every way," he said. He stepped
away from the bed and turned his back to Usagi. She gave a relieved
sigh, glad that he was going to leave her alone. But as soon as he
reached the foot her bed, he spun around and faced her. "Now is
the time to obey, my little butterfly."
     A thin, evil grin spread from ear to ear. The black crescent
moon on his forehead began to glow and turned sideways, transforming
into a third eye which gave off a golden glow. Usagi knew about
entrancing, hypnotic power of Dimando's third eye, which was
responsible for her easy capture to the Black Moon Citadel a few
hours ago. Or was it a few days ago? Usagi's entire sense of time
was warped since her capture. Even Tuxedo Kamen couldn't fight the
awesome force. He and the Sailor Senshi were unable to defeat Dimando.
     Dimando took off his embellished white blouse and exposed his
hairless, muscular chest. He smiled with an air of dignity, knowing
that any woman would give anything to lay on top of his wonderful
mass of muscle. The shirt fell to the marble floor without so much
as a rustle.
     Usagi lengthened out her sore legs and tried to kick him, but
it was hardly an effort for Dimando to hold her ankles in his large
palms. He fiercely pressed her down ankles, his fingers digging into
her skin.
     "LET ME GO!" Usagi screamed, hot tears running down her reddened
cheeks, their path burning. She struggled with her legs for a bit
more, trying to kick and flutter, but it was useless against
Dimando's strength.
     "If you want to be free, you must be a good girl," he told her.
"A *very* good girl," he added lasciviously with a lick of his lips.
He firmly slid his right palm against the entire length of Usagi's
leg as he walked to her side again. His fingers lingered at her
hip for a few seconds, and Usagi squirmed away from him. "Look
at me," he commanded.
     "Please," he added, placing his fingers under Usagi's chin
and turning her face to his. The stench of alcohol accompanied his
steamy, rancid breath.
     "MAMO-CHAN!" she yelled, kicking her legs as an effort to
wring herself away.

     Slap!

     Dimando's palm smashed against Usagi's face before she could
turn her face. She was too stunned to respond.
     "Do not even *think* about him," he said menacingly. "I am
your King now, and you must forget you ever *knew* that bastard."
     He looked into her eyes. The third eye began to sparkle
intensely, its hypnotic aura finally enveloping Usagi with its
complete and total control.
     "Uh!" Usagi cried. She felt a surge of Dark Energy hit her
body full blast, weakening her more than she already was. The ropes
on her wrists unbound by Dimando's telekinetic command. As soon as
she saw the ropes fall to the pillows, she tried to wiggle away.
Her legs wouldn't...couldn't...move.
     She wanted to run. She wanted to scream. She wanted to fight.
But Dimando's power over her was too much. Her body was in the ice
of his commands.
     Her mind not at control, Usagi's body was invisibly propped up.
Dimando's mind forced her into a low kneeling position. Usagi's
calves brushed against the transformation broach, but her fingers
couldn't follow her mind's frantic plea to grab it.
     Dimando climbed into bed with her, and balanced up on his
knees. He pushed Usagi's head down to face his crotch.
     Dimando pulled his trousers to his thighs and pulled his thick,
erect penis out of his underwear. He inched forward on his knees until
the glans of his penis touched the tip of Usagi's nose. She had enough
willpower to scream once.
     "I want you to suck me good," he commanded drunkenly, "like you
suck on Endymion. Please, little one."
     Usagi shut her eyes. "NO!" she managed. The Dark Energy hit her
again, and she felt her muscles fail her once more. This time, she
couldn't even feel her own body anymore. She felt like passing out
from the sheer lack of control.
     Dimando grabbed Usagi's neck and forced her to lean forward. She
could feel the heat from his member like hot breath on her cheeks at
first, then it moved across. The whole experience was revolting.
     The scorching head rubbed against her nose, and she weakly
tried to shake her head away.
     "Mamo---oomph!" Usagi cried as Dimando pushed her jaw open
with his hand and thrust his member into her mouth.
     She wanted to vomit. Dimando gave a low groan as he pulled
Usagi's head back and forth by her left ponytail, making her lips
slide up and down his shaft. The taste of his penis was salty and
the white pubic hair tickled her nose uncomfortably.
     Usagi tried to bite down on Dimando's penis, but she just
didn't have the strength. He was sliding her head back and forth
so fast she didn't know what to do. Tears ran down her face in
a steady flow. Her stomach lurched with every pull.
     The organ seemed to grow in her mouth as her lips were
forced up and down on it. Dimando groaned loudly when he heard
the sucking sounds that came Usagi's mouth. He leaned down and
grabbed Usagi's hand, guiding it to his sac of testes, rubbing
her fingers over the loose skin and balls. He still maneuvered
her head over his penis as he indirectly used Usagi's hands
to massage his balls.
     Suddenly, Dimando shoved Usagi back on the bed, smearing
her face with his hands, wet from the saliva that coated his
member. She lay still, paralyzed with fear as she watched a small
stream of white liquid spill from the top of his penis, then squirt
all over, staining her dress and plopping onto her face.
     When he was finished, his long penis still remained erect.
He wanted more. He wanted Usagi. She saw the evil, determined
look on his face and in his eyes. She *had* to fight.
     Usagi raised her right leg up sharply with all the strength
she could sum up. Even as the Dark Energy hit her body again, her
leg kept on moving up. She almost touched his stomach with her foot,
but her leg sharply went on a downward course. Her chance was over.
     With frightening speed, Dimando regained full control and
grabbed her thigh with both hands through her long dress. With his
legs, he clamped Usagi's left leg down while restraining her right
leg with his hands. He slid her legs farther and farther apart until
he was between them. His hips kept Usagi's legs separated. She could
feel his throbbing meat through the despairingly thin, gauzy material
dress. A blind panic seized her.
     Dimando lay on top of Usagi, his heavy weight unbearable on her
small frame. She let out a whimper and turned her head away from his
steel grey eyes.
     If only Mamo-chan was here! Usagi screamed silently. He'd
save me! Oh, my Mamo-chan...please.....oh please....help...

     ^*^*^*^*^*^*^**^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

     Help me, Mamo-chan....

     "USAKO!" Mamoru cried out, waking up harshly. His heart
beat violently in his breast, beads of sweat running down his
forehead.
     He gave an anguished cry and slammed his pillow his fist.
He was still in his tuxedo, but his mask had fallen off in his
restless sleep. He hastily placed it back over his eyes and sat
up. He swore he heard Usagi's voice.
     My Usako, he thought. Where has Dimando taken you?
     He recalled what happened just a few hours ago. He and
Sailor Moon were speaking to King Endymion, the future Tuxedo
Kamen/Mamoru. Endymion had only been a vision, but his real self
in years ahead had given him the power to "travel" back in time.
His purpose; to inform Sailor Moon and the Senshi of how to save
their very lives, and inevitably, the future.
     Perhaps the most surprising news Endymion told Sailor Moon
and Tuxedo Kamen was the fact Chibi-usa was their daughter from
the future. At first, embarrassment overtook the both of them, but
soon a bond took place of that embarrassment. A bond of love.
     When Dimando appeared, he took Usagi before Tuxedo Kamen could
do anything to stop the kidnaping. Mamoru's heart would have ripped
to shreds if King Endymion hadn't told Mamoru that he knew where
Dimando was taking Usagi. That provided a little comfort.
     "Papa," Chibi-usa whimpered in her sleep. Mamoru glanced
over at the little girl asleep at his side. Sometimes he wished
that Chibi-usa should never have come back to the past. All
the pain he was going through was indirectly her fault. But he
would never place any blame on her. She was his daughter after
all, and he loved her too much.
     Mamoru leaned over and placed a kiss on Chibi-usa's
forehead. He already loved his daughter. She and Usagi were the
most important people in his life, and he was sorry he had ever
doubted his love for Usagi in the past.

     MAMO-CHAN!

     A tortured cry ripped through his mind like a blinding
flash. It was Usagi.
     Chiba Mamoru could take it no longer. He had to find
Usagi. He had to rescue her.

     ^*^*^*^*^*^*^**^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*


     "AH!" Usagi screamed as Dimando slipped a hand into the bodice
of her sparkly gown. His expert thumb and index finger squeezed
Usagi's small nipple, but he wasn't harsh with his movements as she
expected him to be. Usagi gulped and shivered from fright.
     Dimando slid up and kissed Usagi's neck softly while rolling
her nipple around with his two fingers. His other hand crawled
around to her back and undid the zipper of her long gown. He pulled
her dress down to her hips, touching the smooth white flesh of her
heaving ribcage and flat stomach.
     Quickly, Dimando's mouth traveled to her nipples and began to
suck on one while his right hand cupped her small breast, kneading
her soft flesh and playing with the nipple. Usagi cried out in alarm,
shaking her head from side to side as Dimando slid his free hand down
into her panties to cup her buttocks and caress her hips.
     Usagi gasped when she felt a finger poke her womanhood. Two
fingers separated her, and a third slipped inside of her. She squirmed
against Dimando, but all that seemed to do was turn him on even more.
He was extremely skilled with his fingers as they played inside of
her panties.
     Usagi shuddered and bit on her lip until she tasted blood. He left
her breast and kneeled up for a few moments to remove his white pants
and his underwear. Usagi couldn't move, for she was panic-stricken and
terrorized. Even though some of the Dark Energy had left her body, she
was still too weak with fright to fend for herself.
     Dimando leaned back down, and with his palms, spread Usagi's legs
wide apart. He placed his hands inside Usagi's panties again, sliding
two fingers inside of her. His thumb pressed her clitoris into her
pelvis, sending a chilling shock through Usagi's body. She arched her
back, trying to deny access, but it was no use. Dimando's fingers were
cold and invading, but the demonic smile on his face was even worse.
     A short scream escaped her throat when Dimando ripped her panties
off the pink cotton breaking at the seams from the force that he
displayed. Usagi was now completely naked and exposed.
     Dimando leaned closer and his fingers grabbed his huge penis,
pushing it inside of her. His hot member felt like it was a torch
of fire to Usagi as he lodged himself into the small entrance of her
vagina.

     "Pretty flower," Dimando sneered. "Now I will deflower you..."

     "NO!" she screamed.
     Oh, Mamo-chan! Don't let him do this to me...don't you
love me? If you do, you'd be here! You'd save me....you've always
promised to protect me! You swore your life to me back on the Moon.
You swore you'd protect me. You swore you loved me....
     Dimando plunged into her body, his heat and lust searing
and throbbing within her.
     A smoky figure appeared at the foot of the bed.  "Ma..mo..?"
Usagi whispered as Dimando pushed himself farther inside.
     The man just stood there. He was an apparition, the translucent
form of Endymion that had spoken to her before. He looked shocked.
Tears of shame flowed from behind his tuxedo mask.
     "I never knew," he mouthed to her.
     A wave of pain overtook Usagi as Dimando thrust powerfully,
taking away her youth, her innocence, her life. She screamed and
began to cry harder. Dimando pumped himself in and out slowly,
savoring every lingering pull and push, enjoying the tight fit
he had inside of Usagi. His sweat sparkled and dripped onto
Usagi's face.
     Her lower body ached terribly. He was too wide and long, and
she felt her skin splitting. His bony crotch grinded against Usagi
each time he surged forward with excruciating slowness. He grunted
with his horrible thrusts.
     The form of King Endymion stared. He hadn't known this
had ever happened to his beloved. He thought back to years
ago to this moment. He remembered successfully rescuing Usagi
and her saying that Dimando had done nothing to her.

     He never knew the pain she went through.

     "Mamo-chan!" Usagi cried out, her hands reaching out to
Endymion.
     Even though he was almost nothing more than a spirit, he
floated forward, extended his hand, and tried to give her his
strength. Their fingertips touched.
     Saying Mamoru's name angered Dimando. His thrusting became
violent, his balls slamming against Usagi's delicate womanhood.
He was growling. His speed was dizzying to Usagi. Everything was
a blur as he pumped himself in and out.
     Endymion concentrated with everything he had. His hand suddenly
took form and he grasped Usagi's wrist as she screamed and cried out
for Mamoru. Her fingers wrapped around Endymion's thumb weakly.
     The brass headboard pounded against the lavender walls of the
prison as Dimando reached his peak speed. His body was like a wave,
his torso undulating with his hips. Usagi's legs were limp, as was
the rest of her body.
     Friction from Dimando's penis increased with his speed.
He moved so fast that Usagi could feel the hotness that came from
the inside of her tortured body. His mouth clamped over Usagi's
nipple, sucking ferociously.
     Usagi grabbed Endymion tighter. She screamed again and
again, the realization of her rape approaching her full force.
She had always wanted Mamoru to make love to her, even though
she was only fourteen. She knew that waiting until the day
they became married was the sensible thing, but sometimes
fantasies would creep into her mind. Was this the price she
had to pay for wanting only tender love from Mamoru? Had
she been punished for loving Mamoru all her life?
     Endymion glared at Dimando. If looks could kill, Dimando
would be in the Hell of Hell. Endymion had known that Dimando
wanted Queen Serenity when he arrived in Crystal Tokyo with his
Black Moon troupe, but Endymion protected his sweet love from
all harm. The Black Moon had been the only exception. Nobody
could touch Serenity. He protected her with the determination
that was fueled by his intense love.  And now....
     Usagi's entire reality was diminished into one point of
intense pain. She couldn't even feel Endymion anymore. All she
felt was Dimando's body crashing against hers. Her senses were
flooded with Dimando as he took away her soul.
     Dimando shouted, his hot cream spurting forth inside
of Usagi. Blackness overwhelmed her for a moment. Her body
locked itself and she gave an agonized scream. Endymion
screamed with her. Pure pain flushed through Usagi, and
that exact pain carried over into Endymion, who had never
felt such devastation and supreme loss in his entire life.
The age of innocence was no longer.
     Usagi sensed the spasms of Dimando's shaft as he emptied
himself. His mouth was still at her nipple, and sucking steadily
and involuntarily.
     With the consciousness she had left, Usagi gently rolled
herself away from Dimando. Even though his penis slipped out
easily, she was raw and hurting. Her hand let go of Endymion
almost accusingly. She lay on her side, pulling her knees up to
her chest in a fetal position.
     Endymion floated to Usagi's side of the bed. He stared at
her calm face, streaked with tears and Dimando's juice. His
translucent hand caressed her cheek. She stared forward, and
for a second Endymion thought she was dead. Her slow, shallow
breathing proved otherwise.
     She sniffled and began to sob. Her forehead rested against
her knees as she clenched her teeth and wept. Why? she thought
to Endymion. Why couldn't you save me?

     I didn't know, he thought back. I didn't know.

     ^*^*^*^*^*^*^**^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*


     Looking straight towards the starry horizon, Mamoru jumped
off the cliff. He savored the feeling of wind rushing past his
face as he descended quickly.

     The wings of his hanglider lifted him up as quickly as
he had gone down. He was going to rescue Usagi if it was the
last thing he did. He couldn't let Dimando place a finger on
her.

     ^*^*^*^*^*^*^**^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*


     Usagi didn't know when Dimando had gone away. She didn't care.
All she knew now was that she was alone on the bed. Something she
was thankful for.
     Endymion was still at her side. She opened her sticky, swollen
lips. "You betrayed me," she said.
     His face reddened and tears flowed down. "No. I never knew
this happened. If I had, I would have rescued you without a second
thought."
     She sniffled once more and sat up. A trail of blood ran from
the middle of the bed to her side. She cried out in horror.
     Someone walked down the hallway again. "no...." Usagi said
softly. It couldn't be Dimando. Hadn't he done enough?
     Surprisingly, it only was Saffir, Dimando's brother and slave.
     Saffir carried with him a glass of water and wet washcloths.
"I'm sorry for what my brother did to you," he told her. "I want you
to know that I wanted to help you. I saw what he did. If I had the
courage to face my brother, I would have killed him before any of
this happened."
     Usagi nodded. Somehow, she found her voice. "Why couldn't you
fight him?" she croaked out. "Can't you be brave enough to at least
*stop* what had just happened?"
     "No, no," Saffir said. "Don't you see? If I even *think* against
him, I'm a dead man. I can't object to Dimando. He controls me."
     Usagi kept silent. Nothing would ever change the piteous
situation between the brothers. It was Dimando in charge, as it
would remain.
     Saffir walked to Usagi's side and bent down. "I'm here to help
you.  Drink this water and take this pill," he said, handing her the
glass along with a minute pill that was smaller than the tip of her
pinky. "This is something that will prevent you from having Dimando's
baby."
     The thought of having a baby, let alone Dimando's, gave a wave
of horrendous nausea to Usagi.
     "Thank you," she whispered. Endymion was still standing close
by, but hidden in the shadows. He wished he could go forward and give
Usagi a comforting embrace. She needed one more than anybody.
     Saffir gave Usagi the washcloths after she had swallowed the
pill and drank the water. "Do you want me to--" he began, offering
his hand.
     "No. I'll be fine," Usagi said. Saffir left the room, giving
Usagi one last, genuinely caring glance.
     The washcloth stung on Usagi's face. She proceeded to clean
herself, despite the pain she discovered all over her body,
especially at her womanhood. When she tried to spread her legs
apart, it was too difficult to even move them. She tried a fresh
washcloth on herself. When she brought her hand back up, blood
covered the washcloth.
     Still, nothing matched up to the hurt she felt when she
thought about Mamoru and his failure to appear at a time when she
needed him more than he would have ever imagined. She couldn't tell
him what had happened to her.
     Endymion's form was glittering away. All he said was
"I'm sorry, my love," before he vanished.
      Now Usagi was truly alone.
     She found her dress and pulled it on deliberately. Her
entire being ached with so tremendously, she thought she was
dying. Slowly, she crawled back into the bed and closed her eyes.
Sleep would take away her fears if only for a few moments.


     ^*^*^*^*^*^*^**^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

     "Usako!" Mamoru whispered when he saw the black crystal
of the Dark Moon Citadel's fortress. He landed on a sharp,
steep ledge and unstrapped himself from the hanglider.
He surveyed his surroundings. There was a door. A way in.


     ^*^*^*^*^*^*^**^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*


     Usagi awoke again. She had only slept for a few minutes
when the image of Dimando's grunting, sweating body flashed
in her mind, causing her to shoot up into a sitting position.
     "You're awake," someone said. Usagi screamed when she saw
Dimando walking towards her.
     Not again! she thought, her lips quivering. Mamoru,
where are you?


      ^*^*^*^*^*^*^**^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*


     Mamoru ran down the dark hallways as fast as his long legs
could carry him. He spotted another hallway to his right that was
illuminated through high windows by the moon and stars. He felt his
love for Usagi guide him to her.

     ^*^*^*^*^*^*^**^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

     "We haven't kissed yet," Dimando said, the eye on his forehead
glowing. "Can you imagine? Binding our love, and not even kissing on
the lips? How absurd..." Dimando drawled out, obviously more drunken
than he previously was.
     "No!" Usagi screamed.
     Dark Energy hit her like it did last time. She was immediately
weakened. Her body floated upwards, and so did Dimando's. He pressed
Usagi's body to his. "Neo-Queen Serenity, now I finally have you
within my grasp. Is it not proper to kiss your King?" Dimando asked
quietly.
     Usagi squirmed in his hands. She smelled the alcohol on his
breath and retched.  "I don't want anybody but Mamoru to kiss me,"
she hissed.
     Dimando was even more determined. "Ah, but we have already
made lo---"
     A streak of red and green separated the oncoming kiss, and Usagi
fell back onto the bed. A rose slashed across Dimando's arm and then
embedded itself in the floor below, its stem breaking the marble with
spiderweb cracks.
     Usagi looked upward and spotted Tuxedo Kamen standing next to
a broken window near the high ceiling. It's too late, she thought
sadly.
     "Using Dark Power to get what you want, Dimando?!? I won't let
you lay your twisted lips on Usagi. If you even *touch* her again,
I will never forgive you. I find it hard to forgive you now," Tuxedo
Kamen spat.
     Dimando's anger took over his conscious thoughts. He released
a staggering blow of physical Dark Energy, but Tuxedo Kamen managed
to shield it off with his cape. The energy backfired and hit Dimando
in a whirlwind of chaos.
     Tuxedo Kamen looked down and extended his cane to Usagi.
"Grab it!" he cried out to her. Usagi nodded and held onto the cane
as if her life depended on it. So did the entire future of Tokyo.
She grabbed her transformation brooch just before the cane began
to pull her up.
     The length of the cane shortened until Usagi reached Tuxedo
Kamen's side. "Oh Mamoru, you're here," she whispered. "I don't
think I would have been able to stay alive any longer...."
     "What?" Tuxedo Kamen shouted, not able to hear her voice
over the roar of Dark Energy. He tenderly placed his arm around
her and led her out of the Black Moon Citadel.


     ^*^*^*^*^*^*^**^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*


     The flight was exhilarating and life-giving. Usagi
gave a weak smile when she was at least a mile away from
Hell, the Black Moon Citadel. Her Mamoru held her close
with deliberate protection, his lips pressing against her
cheek as a sign of his relieved affection.
     It was about five minutes before they made it back to
the Crystal Tokyo Palace. Mamoru landed the hanglider gently
and lifted Usagi out of the support, steadying her slightly
wobbling steps.
     "Mamo-chan," Usagi said, hugging her love fiercely.
     Mamoru removed his tuxedo mask and smiled down at her
with a loving gaze. He brushed the hair out of her liquid
blue eyes. "When Dimando took you away, I thought I would
die," he told her, "but King Endymion told me that he knew
where Dimando was taking you. I thank him so much for telling
me that you were all right. Are you?" he added, just to
ensure that she was indeed untouched.
     It took all the courage Usagi posessed within her to 
prevent the truth from escaping her. "Yes. Dimando didn't 
touch me."
     Mamoru's face melted into a young puppy grin. He stared
into Usagi's face again. Something seemed a little different
about the way she looked.
     The usual bright light in her eyes that gave her such
vitality had gone out like a candle at its end. She wasn't
smiling. Tears welled up and she looked away, ashamed of
lying to her one and only love.
     "Usako," Mamoru spoke softly. "Endymion told us that
we will have many more challenges to face. Enemies who will
test the strength of our love. But I want you to know, my
beautiful Usako, that my love for you is undying and true."
     Usagi's tears spilled forth. She couldn't lie to him.
She had to let him know that Dimando had already defeated
them. His love wasn't strong enough to save her from the
tragedy.
     "Mamo-chan...I...I don't care about the enemies," Usagi
sputtered. When she saw his face, so happy and content, she
realized that couldn't go through with telling him what had
truly happened back at the Black Moon Citadel.
     She just couldn't.
     "As long as I'm with you, we will face them...together,"
she finally said.
     Mamoru leaned down and kissed Usagi as the winter wind
struck up. The snow began to fall.


     ~Finis~








"Thank You" Notes:

- YO! TO ALL MY FANS!!! Thanx to some people who idolize me (do I
truly deserve this? ^_^), and thanx to anybody reading this piece,
you've got a real sense of courage. It was hard for me to write,
but I had a deep purpose in mind. Thank you.
- To my dearest, thank you for loving me so. :)
- Thanks to my great friends Artemis and Luna. We've struggled
through thick and thin to keep "A Sailor Moon Romance" up, but
I know that we'll keep it strong for years to come!!! Never
give up, because I know I never will.
- For all victims of rape, I give you my deep care and concern.
And to Carrie M., I love you and you know I'm here for you, this
story is dedicated to you. Thank you for sharing your experience
with me, and especially for letting me be your confidante through
your hardest times. You've begun your new song, and I'm so glad
I was a part of it.