Hey guys!!  Here goes nothin'  Guess what?!  I finally got aol's 
IM!!  My 
screename is starbunny816 !  I'd love to here from you online as 
well!
*Standard disclaimer*

So Very Lonely : Epilogue

    Sunlight streamed into a small room, dancing on Usagi's 
golden curls.
It warmed her face.  It was so good to be alive...

*flashback*

    "AIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!  Usagi!!  Usagi!!  Mamoru!!"
    "Rei? Rei.  Calm down.  We've got to get them to the 
shrine!!"
    "Oh, Ami...Look at them!!  Just look at them!!"
    "Well, you're not helping by looking!!  Let's go!!

*end flashback*
(Mamo-chan's POV)

    "Arrggghhh..."  I woke up in a small bedroom in, what I 
recognized as,
Rei's shrine.  My body felt like a giant pincushion.  Something 
deep in the
back of my mind told me that there was something very important 
I should be
worrying about right now...  "USAKO!!!!"  I screamed as loud as 
I could.
I sat up quickly, ready to go find her, but a wave of dizziness 
forced me
down.  "Usakooo"  I mumbled.
    "Oh!!  Mamoru!!  You're awake.  You poor thing.  Here, lay 
down and
rest.  Your body needs rest.  You've fought a hard battle."  I 
looked up to
see a very concerned Rei, who proceeded to try to coax be back 
into bed.
    "Usako?  Is she....is she..," I gulped, unable to continue 
because of
the tears that threatened to spill.
    "No.  Usagi is....well,....resting.  Yes, Usagi 
is..resting," she said,
getting cheerier with every word.  When Rei was cheery, you knew 
something
was wrong.
    "Rei..."
    "Bye, Mamoru, get some rest!"  She said this, leaving me too 
weak to beg
for an answer as she swept out of the room.
    "Usako..."

@--> --> --> ---

    "How is she, Ami?"
    "Well, I think she'll be okay....she just needs some time."
    "We're lucky it's Thanksgiving break."
    "Yeah..."
    "They were only in the other dimension for 24 hours our 
time.  Days,
Darkstar's time."
    "Yeah..."
    "Ami, what's wrong with Usagi?"
    "Mina-chan...  Her leg is broken and she's all bruised up.  
She's got
numerous cuts and one huge gash down her side."
    "Ouch..."
    "Yeah..."
    "Well, I called her parents to say she'd been hit by a car.  
You know,
hit and run.  We brain-washed a doctor into thinking he'd 
treated her and
that it was best for her to recover here."
    "Awesome, where are her parents?"
    "Snowed in in Maine, visiting relatives."
    "Bummer."
    "Yeah."

@--> --> --> --

    In the thick velvety darkness of night, a handsome figure 
tip-toed
towards Usagi's room...
    ' HA!!  They can't stop me, Tuxedo Kamen!!,' he thought, 
silently, "I
will find my Usako!!'  He walked on, following to pull of 
Usagi's pain...
He entered the room, only to find that Usagi was tossing 
fitfully in her
sleep...
    "Mamo....Mamo-chan...so sorry....tried...tried 
to....save...you....."
This was followed by gentle sobbing, in her sleep.
    "Usako.." he breathed into her ear.  "Usako, princess, you 
saved me!!
I'm alive because of you!"
    "Mamo-chan!!"  She bolted upright, only to regret it. She 
sagged onto
Mamoru's shoulder, whimpering slightly.
    "Usako!!  Are you alright??!!"
    "Hai...."
    "It hurts, doesn't it, Usagi?"
    "No, Mamo-c-"
    "Don't lie."  She began to cry softly on him, as he held her 
close.
    "Usagi,...I don't think I've ever told you this before...My 
life before
you came was filled with pain, frustration, and hatred.  Then 
you came, the
light of my life, the flame of hope!!  Usako, I was so lonely 
without
you...so very lonely.  I love you, Usako!!"
    "Oh, Mamo-chan I love you too!"

    @--> --> --> ---

    Somewhere in Tokyo, a couple who was meant to be from the 
beginning, is
peacefully sleeping in each other's arms.  One, dark and rich at 
heart.  The
other, flaming and giving at heart.  True love...What will 
tomorrow bring?

                                                                 
   THE END

    Is anyone feeling a moment?  I thought the end was almost 
touching!!
Oh, the whole Thanksgiving break thing and her parents being out 
of town has
nothing to do with "Thanking of You"  Is anyone interested in a 
short,
follow-up story?  Email me at joeharps@ix.netcom.com or IM me, 
I'm
starbunny816!!  Take care, minna, God be with you!!  Love, Miri