"A Love Carol"
A Sailor Moon Christmas Tale
By Sailor November

Note:  If you read parts one and two before they were revised and have not
gone back and re - read them, I suggest you do!  A lot of plot changes were
made that are crucial.


PART THREE

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        Mamoru began to realize that what Usagi had told him before was
the truth.  He had been neglecting her more than he realized.  He felt
so horrible, and he knew he'd make it all up to her when he found her the
next day.  
        But before the scene could progress any further, the ghost 
snapped his fingers and the scene changed to outside Mamoru's apartment,
at the cafe.

        Mamoru turned to the ghost. "Please! I don't want to see
anymore, take me home!"
        The ghost of the present simply gazed at him. "Can you not face what
you have done, Mamoru?"
        "No," Mamoru whispered. "Please. Take me home.  I know of what takes
place next well enough."
        "Very well." With a snap of his fingers, the ghost returned Mamoru
to his apartment.  With a blink of an eye, the ghost was gone.  With
a sigh, Mamoru climbed back into bed. With any luck, he would be able to 
fall asleep, and not have nightmares about what he saw.


        But when the clock chimed three, Mamoru awoke with a start. To his
surprise, another ghost stood before him.  This one was a dainty young girl,
almost a child.  The child had shining white hair with a glowing robe around
it's body.

	"Hello, Mamoru," she whispered. "I am the ghost of
things to come."
        Mamoru looked at her warily. "Let me guess. You're going to take me
to the future?"
        "That is correct," she said. "Come, Mamoru." She extended her hand.
Mamoru looked at her suspiciously, then took it. The room around him blurred,
and became the beautiful view of a future city from atop of a hill.

        "Where are we?" he asked, looking around.
        "We are in Crystal Tokyo as it will be if things continue the way
they are, Mamoru."
	 "Crystal Tokyo?  Wow... it's so beautiful.."  Mamoru said with starry
eyes.
	He was surrounded by a pink and yellow sunset sky.  The large moon 
peaked just above the horizon, indicating night was fast approaching. The 
Crystal Palace stood in the middle of the city, taller than any 
other building.  The city was absolutely beautiful, and Mamoru was so 
proud that it was he and Usagi that would rule it.  The scene faded,
and they found themselves in a beautiful garden.  

	"This must be one of our royal gardens."  Mamoru chimed.
	But suddenly, a deep voice interrupted them. "Odango! Odango, where
are you?"
	To Mamoru's outrage, Seiya jogged into sight. "Odango-attma?"

	"WHAT the HELL is Seiya doing in the Royal Garden?  And WHY the HELL
is he wearing MY future outfit??!?!"  Mamoru screamed to the ghost.
	"Watch it, Mamoru.  I have warned you already, this is what is to come
if you continue on the path you have steered towards."

        "Over here, darling!" called a sweet voice. Mamoru nearly passed out.
        "Usako," he choked.  He ran after Seiya, catapulting his body towards
Seiya to tackle him and strangle him.  But he just passed right through 
Seiya's body, and landed hard on the concrete!
	"Ouch.."  Mamoru managed to whisper.

	Neo-Queen Serenity was sitting on a rock by the pond, looking as 
beautiful as ever.

	Mamoru managed to pull himself up just as Seiya embraced Neo-Queen
Serenity with a warm hug.
        "Hello, my love," she said, with a bright smile.  "It has only been
two hours and I miss you already!"
	"Only two hours, and I miss you already,"  Mamoru mocked with rolled
eyes.
	"And I you, my love."

	"You know what?  This is NOT funny!"  Mamoru growled.  "Hey wait!  
This IS hilarious!!"  Mamoru laughed hesitantly,  "This is one of those 
hidden camera shows huh?"  He began fumbling through the bushes... but to 
his disappointment found no cameras.  

	All of the sudden, Mamoru turned around to face the kissing couple,
and fell to his knees.  As he began sobbing, the ghost could just barely
make out his words.  "Usako... Why?  I thought WE were destined to bring
society to peace together... not you and Seiya..  I don't understand... why 
are you making me see this?  Why is Usako all over Seiya?  What kind of 
horrible joke is this?"

	The couple ended their embrace, and took a long loving look into
each others eyes.  
	"Let us go to Lunch, Darling."  Seiya said, breaking the silence.
	"I'll join you in a second, sweetie.  I need one more minute alone."
	Seiya turned around and headed back towards the palace.  Once his 
form was out of sight,  Neo-Queen Serenity's smile faded.  She turned 
towards the stone bench, and picked up the single red rose.  As she placed 
it by a stone Mamoru had not seen before, she whispered quietly, "May
you watch over us, Mamoru." 
	As Neo-Queen Serenity slowly walked away, Mamoru read the stone that
sat behind the rose.  It read CHIBA MAMORU, IN LOVING MEMORY.

	Mamoru threw himself onto his knees as he realized his fate.  

	The ghost then came to his side.  "Don't you understand, Mamoru?  
Have you not listened to me this WHOLE time?  The path you have steered 
towards results in this!"

	"I.. I don't understand!"  Mamoru choked.

	The ghost slapped it's head and sighed.  "THIS is what will happen 
if you keep neglecting Usagi, you MORON!"
	"No!  Please, I beg you, help me avoid this horrible future I have
created!  What can I do?"

	The ghost calmly bent down to Mamoru's level, and put his hands on
Mamoru's shoulder.  "Go home, and give Usagi the time of her life!  Tell
her you love her, and remind her every chance you get!  You still have
a chance to avoid this!"

	"I Understand, now!  I see it all!  I will honor our love, I will
cherish our love!  And never again will I take it for granted!"

	Slowly, the ghost smiled, and stood.  

	"Heed the lessons you have learned, Mamoru, For she is your life,
your love, and your everything."


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	As the sun shined through the curtains to Mamoru's bedroom, Mamoru
slowly awoke to the sound of his clock radio.  The soothing sound
of "White Christmas" reminded him that Christmas was the next day!  His
thoughts lingered to Usagi as he saw his gift for her perched on his 
dresser.  He had to find Usagi and tell her what she meant to him.  And 
after all they had been through in the past few days, he started
to think that the pink stuffed bunny wouldn't be such a great gift after
all.  

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	At the mall, Mamoru walked through hoards of people obviously doing
some last minute Christmas shopping, desperately searching for the perfect
gift. His eyes wandered from shop to shop, looking uninterestedly at the 
things in the windows.  Yet the gift he craved for was no where to be 
found.  He had no idea what it was, but he knew it was out there.

	But suddenly, a sparkle in a shop window caught his attention.  He
looked closer to find it was a beautiful ring on display at the 
prestigious Tokyo Jewelers show room.  'It's perfect!' He thought as he
rushed into the store.

	It was an elegant 14 K gold ring with a small sapphire in the
shape of a moon surronded by little white diamonds.  As the moon sparkled 
in the store lights, he imagined it on Usagi; and it was perfect
	'Could I give Usako an ingagement ring?  It's too early!  But it's
perfect...'  Mamoru thought as the ring sparkled inside the show case.
	A feminine voice rang from behind him, causing him to turn around.  
	"Can I help you, sir?"  The lady clerk asked.
	Then, an idea came to Mamoru.
	"Yes, please," Mamoru smiled.
	"You've found something you like?"
	"Yes, miss, I'd love to see this gold ring with the moon."
	"Wow, that is a beauty!" She chirped as she opened the show case to 
remove the ring.
	"It's perfect.."  Mamoru whispered to himself.
	"Planning on poping the question?"  The clerk winked.
	"One day...."  Mamoru grinned.
	Not even concerned with the price, he asked for the clerk to ring
it up.  As she placed it inside a burgandy ring box, Mamoru wondered how
he'd give it to her. 
	"Well merry Christmas to the both of you!"  She chirped as he smiled
and walked towards the door.  With a proud grin on his face, Mamoru 
strolled out of the jewelry store, very proud of his purchase.  But two 
blond Ondangos caught his attention in the restaurant in front of him.


	Across the hall from the Jewelry store, Seiya sat with Usagi at a
booth in a small cafe.  It was very awkward for the both of them, since
Seiya's bold move the day before.  Mamoru couldn't help himself, and 
hid behind a plant close to them to hear what was going on.

	"Seiya, um... We've got to talk about this..."  Usagi said awkwardly.
	"Is that why you called me here?  What happened last night?"  
Questioned Seiya.
	"Yes.  Oh Seiya, You ARE one of my best friends, but... Well... 
that's all you'll ever be. You know I love Mamo-chan. He's the only one 
I'll ever love."
	"Oh... I.. see.. But wait!  After all he put you through?  After
the fight?  You still forgive him?"  said a concerned Seiya.
	"Of course I do, Seiya!  We may be going through hard times now,
but I've always looked on the bright side of things."  She said, hoping 
she was right.  "I'm sorry, Seiya!  I really don't want to hurt you.."
	"Oh, no problem!"  Seiya lied with a fake smile.  "I understand."
	"Really?"  Usagi gleamed.  "Oh, Thank you, Seiya!"
	"Great..  well, I've got some last minute shopping to do, so I'll
see ya around, okay Odango Attma?"  Seiya said, covering his grievance.
	"Um.. okay, Ja ne!"  Usagi said.
	Usagi watched him leave the table, his shoulders sagging slightly. 
	'I really hurt him...'  She thought sadly. 
	Usagi got up from the table herself, and began to walk in the 
opposite direction of Seiya. She didn't even notice a silly grinned Mamoru 
as she passed him, she was so deep in thought.   Mamoru was so ecstatic to 
hear that Serena still cared for him.  A pang of guilt struck leaving him 
feeling terrible for ever doubting her love for him. But he planned to make
it up to her, soon. He snuck up behind her with the cat-like skills of 
Tuxedo Kamen. Surprising her, he threw his hands onto her waist, spined her 
around, and embraced her with a hug to never forget.  His mouth searched for
her soft lips, kissing her with all the love and passion he had.
	Usagi was too shocked to scream, but as a gentle arms embraced her, 
and his lips carressed hers, she felt a warm feeling in her heart. This kiss
was much sweeter than the one she had with Seiya; It was filled with a 
feeling that went deeper than her heart, deeper than anything anyone could 
ever imagine. Instantly, she knew it was her Mamo-chan.  Once Mamoru finally
released, he whispered in her ear,  "I'm sorry, baby. I love you so much, 
please forgive me for what I said."
	"Mamo-chan... I..."  She didn't know what to say.
	"Please understand, Usako, I need you!  You're my heart, my soul, my 
everything.  You ARE part of me! Without you, I'd be nothing!  I can't 
believe the things I said to you yesterday. I was so stupid!""
	"I want to forgive you so badly, Mamo-chan... but this has been
going on for more than a day or two.  I feel like... like you take me
for granted!  Like I'm just a permanent part of your life that doesn't 
have importance anymore."
	"Usako, I realize now what I've been doing to you.. I saw it in my
dreams.. I now realize that I need to cherish the moment before it 
never comes again!  Please, find it in your heart to trust me again.  And
I promise, Usako, I'll make it up to you."
	In her soul, Usagi knew he meant what he said.  And because she
loved him so much, what could she do but forgive him? 
	Without words, her forgiveness was given through a passionate kiss.  
She threw her arms around his neck and brought her lips to his, which he 
returned happily. They broke apart, slightly gasping for air. A healthy pink 
blush spread to Usagi's cheeks as her head rested against Mamoru's chest.
	"Mamo-chan?"  Usagi whispered.
	"Hmmm?"
	"For Christmas, there is one gift you could give me that would be
better than anything else." Usagi raised her head to look into his deep blue
eyes.
	"What gift is that?"  Mamoru asked curiously, raising an eyebrow.	
	"Spend Christmas day with my family and I.  You're a part of me,
and I couldn't spend this special holiday without you."
	"You really mean it?"  Mamoru was very surprised.  "Would.. your
family let me?"
	"Of Course!  Please, Mamo-chan, it would mean so much to me!  What 
is Christmas without your family?"
	"You are my family, Usako.  I would love to come for Christmas; 
Nothing could make me happier."
	"Oh Mamo-chan!  This will be the best Christmas ever!  You'll get
to meet my Mom and Dad, and My brother.."
	"Your... dad?"  Mamoru choked, his face turning pale.
	"Oh.. that may be a little problem.. Well, I'm sure you'll get along
fine once he meets you!"
	Mamoru thought back to the first time he had met Kenji, when 
Chibi-Usa first arrived. I didn't go along smoothly.. Before Mamoru could 
choke another word, Usagi embraced him with another lingering kiss.
	"This really *will* be the best Christmas ever!"  Usagi gleamed.
	"Best Christmas ever.." Mamoru gulped.


The End.
	
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Heehee!  ^_^
Don't fret, this isn't it!  The epilogue is coming up next...

Sailor November <birkrules@california.com>
"Usagi, Mamoru, and Romance, and you got yourself a fic! ^_^"

The Usagi and Mamoru Fanfiction Archive
http://members.tripod.com/~usamamo

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