*Disclaimer: BSSM is not mine, plain and simple.

*********************************************************
That proved to break Mamoru's control. That innocent
Usagi-gesture caused Mamoru's heart to leap and his lips
to scream for hers. Usagi's breathing quickened and her
eyes fluttered shut as Mamoru gently put his hands on her
shoulders and drew her closer to him. Finally, Mamoru
would be able to express his love for Usagi with this
oh-so-simple-yet-beautiful act.
*********************************************************

Medical Miracle
Chapter 11: Games of Love
By: The Rose Society
Rating: PG-13
Email: EtrlSlrMn@aol.com
http://www.geocities.com/the_rose_society/index.html

	You know, sometimes Mamoru really hated Dr.
Hongo with a passion. Usually, she was just a brutal task
master, someone that had rather high expectations of him.
During those times, Mamoru could handle her. Then there
were other times that Mamoru absolutely cursed her
existence.
	Why was Mamoru thinking about Dr. Hongo at such a
life-altering moment? Why was he even thinking of anything
else except kissing Usagi? Dr. Hongo was in Mamoru's
thoughts, dear readers, because she had done something so
horrible, so cruel, so evil to him that, for a brief moment,
Usagi was the furthest thing from his mind. What did Dr.
Hongo do, you ask?

	She rang the doorbell.

*DING DONG*

	The horrid chime jolted Usagi and Mamoru out of
their dream world and back into reality. Usagi, looking
at the position she was in, ripped herself away from
Mamoru as if she had been burned. Her thoughts were all
a jumble as she quickly fumbled for her coat. What had
she done? Eyes filling with tears, she hurriedly slipped
on her shoes and opened the door. Muttering a quick
'gomen' to the surprised Dr. Hongo and professor standing
in the open doorway, Usagi ran toward the still open
elevator and made a quick disappearance, leaving an
utterly mystified Mamoru standing like an idiot with his
mouth hanging open. All three were staring at the closed
elevator doors in a stupor. Eventually, Mamoru collected
his wits and invited the two doctors into his apartment.

*Two Hours Later*

	Mamoru closed the door behind his professor. The
dinner had gone reasonably well and his professor left
after congratulating Mamoru on his good progress. Now,
only Dr. Hongo remained. Mamoru returned to his living
room where Dr. Hongo remained sitting on the couch.
Sitting in the armchair, Mamoru waited to see what Dr.
Hongo wanted to say to him.
	"Chiba, I must agree, if somewhat reluctantly,
with your professor," began Dr. Hongo as she took another
sip of her coffee. "You are making excellent progress
towards becoming a doctor. Your studies are proceeding
very well and you have acquired quite a reputation as
an intern at the hospital."
	Mamoru politely thanked Dr. Hongo while thinking,
'Demo...I can feel that there is going to be a demo in
this conversation somewhere.'
	"Demo, Chiba, I want to warn you of one thing."
Dr. Hongo placed her mug on the coffee table and turned
her ice-green eyes on Mamoru. "I am not speaking to you
as a superior to a intern. I am not even speaking to
you as doctor to intern. I am speaking strictly as a
friend of Usagi's. Do not get closer to Usagi. You are
only going to wind up hurting her."
	Mamoru stared at Dr. Hongo in surprise before
his eyes narrowed and jaw clenched. Rising to his feet,
Mamoru glared at Dr. Hongo with his fists clenched at
his side. "Dr. Hongo, with all due respect, keep your
damn nose out of my personal affairs. I have no
intention of ever hurting Usagi. I do not care if you
think that you have every right to butt into our lives,
but what type of relationship Usagi and I have is no
concern of yours."
	Dr. Hongo rose to her feet as well and regarded
Mamoru with cold eyes. In an arctic voice, she said,
"You might not have any intention of hurting Usagi but
by making her fall in love with you, you are. You might
not even know it, but you hurt her. And I will not
forgive you for hurting her." Turning, Dr. Hongo grabbed
her things and walked out of Mamoru's apartment without
saying anything more.
	Mamoru looked at the closed door, still seething
in anger. Who in the world did that woman think she is?
She knew nothing of the deep feelings he had for Usagi
nor of how long he had loved her, ever since she had
given him that rose in the hospital so many years ago.
He would never hurt her. It was his job to protect her,
to love her and to cherish her. And nothing was going
to stop him.

*Tsukino Household*

	Usagi still lay on her bed, curled up into a
fetal position. They had almost kissed. Oh Kami-sama,
what was happening to her? A relationship was not
something that Usagi needed right now. When had Mamoru
gotten past her guard and made her have feelings for
him? He had tormented her with his hurtful comments
about her hair, her grades, everything she
beat herself up about. This was the man that she had
hated in her adolescent years. Usagi stilled at that
thought. Had she hated him? Deep down in side, past
all her annoyance and supposed anger, there had been
an undercurrent...an intangible something. But Usagi
never stopped yelling at Mamoru to figure out what it
was. When he was going to leave for Harvard and Motoki
had asked her to help arrange his surprise going away
party, why had Usagi jumped at the chance? Back then,
Usagi thought it was because Motoki-onii-chan had asked
her to do a favor for him and because she was so glad
to get rid of Mamoru-baka. But when the party was done
and Mamoru said goodbye to her and Motoki at the arcade,
why did her heart suddenly ache? When she saw him again
at the hospital, why did her heart suddenly leap for
joy. Usagi gasped then groaned into her pillow. Oh Kami,
she had a silly schoolgirl's crush on Mamoru for the
longest time. She just never admitted it to herself,
nor let herself look past the teasing and arguments.
And now that they had both grown up, her feelings had
developed into something that could potentially threaten
her peace of mind. In her condition, developing a
relationship with anyone would be emotionally harmful
to both her and the other party. She had to end this
before it went away further. But what could she do to
make Mamoru stop caring for her? And when he did stop
caring, what could she do to stop her heart from
breaking?

*Next Day*

	Mamoru glared at his desk clock. Finally, the
evil little hands pointed to the exact hour that Usagi's
shift began. Running a quick hand through his hair to
make sure he was presentable, Mamoru rushed toward
the nurses station, eager to see Usagi again and make
his feelings known in a more concrete way.
	The Voice raised it's little pom-poms into the
air. 'You GO boy! Finally! You'll admit your feelings
for the beautiful Odango goddess, then you'll get your
much anticipated kiss, and then, it's off to the
honeymoon.' The Voice dropped the pom-poms and began to
drool again as a little thought bubble formed over its
head. Self-Control hastily pasted a censored sign over
the bubble as it nervously dragged the Voice away,
mumbling, 'Gomen, gomen, minna.' Turning toward the
drooling Voice, it said, 'Baka, there are children
reading these things.'
	'Not likely,' snorted the Voice. 'I highly doubt
anyone is reading this author's works.'
	Self-Control rolled its eyes. 'Granted, demo
there is a _chance_ that a child could read this. Now,
go into the dark where no one see those eechi thoughts.'
	Nurse Kaneshiro looked at Mamoru in amusement.
"Gomen nasai, Chiba-san, demo Usagi has already left
for her rounds." Before he even finished his sentence,
Mamoru had already tossed a hurried, "Arigato," and
had disappeared around the corner. Nurse Kaneshiro
shook his head. "You'd think that Chiba would realize
by now that Usagi isn't interested in him. Oh well, I
guess that means more competition for me."
	Mamoru dashed towards the patient's room. Usagi
should be there. He rounded another corner and there
she was, just exiting the room. Mamoru slid to a stop
in front of a startled Usagi.
	*GASP* "Usagi-chan," *WHEEZE* "I have been
wanting to" *PANT* "talk to you all day." Mamoru took
in a greedy lungful of air. "Could we step into my
office?"
	Regaining her composure, Usagi schooled her
features to look as cold as possible. "Gomen,
Chiba-san, demo I do not have any time. I must continue
my rounds. If you will excuse me." Usagi turned away
from a shocked Mamoru and went to the next room.
	Mamoru stared at her disappearing figure in
confusion. What in the world had just happened? Usagi
was so cold. It seemed as if every ounce of caring
that she normally had had been drained away from her
body. Shaking his head, Mamoru waited by the door to
the hospital room. Usagi owed him an explanation for
her behavior and he was determined to get one. He was
so determined that he didn't notice Ami trying to get
his attention until the young woman practically yell
in his ear.
	"Mamoru-san!" Mamoru finally turned his
attention to Ami. "Mamoru-san, what are you doing out
here? Dr. Hongo has told me that she wants to know
where in the world are the completed patient reports."
	Torn, Mamoru contemplated facing Dr. Hongo's
wrath or confronting Usagi. Sighing, he knew that
his talk with Usagi could wait, and Mamoru nodded.
"Arigato, Ami-san, for telling me. I'll go see her
directly. Could you do me a favor, however? Could you
please inform Usagi-chan that I would like to speak
to her at her earliest convenience?" Taking one last
look at the still closed door, Mamoru made his way
to his office to quickly finish the reports.
	As soon as he left, Ami rapped gently on the
door and whispered, "Usagi-chan? He's gone now."
Moments later, the door opened gently and a relieved
Usagi slipped out of the room.
	Giving Ami a grateful smile, Usagi said,
"Arigato, Ami-chan. I really appreciate you doing
that for me."
	Ami shook her head dismissively. "No need
for thanks, Usagi-chan. I am only too happy to help
you out in any way that I can. Demo, are you sure
that avoiding him like this is a good idea?"
	Usagi shook her head ever so slightly. "I
honestly do not know, Ami-chan. Demo I know that he
can not have feelings for me. This charade is for
his own good."
	Ami gave a resigned sigh. "If you are sure,
Usagi-chan. If you think this is best for the both
of you, then I'll help you."
	Usagi gave Ami a little hug. "Of course this
is for the best, Ami-chan. How can I let him fall
in love with me when I'm going to die?" 'How can
I love him when I know there is no future for us?'
she added, silently.

Translations (nothing new, just the usual):
	ano- um...
	arigato (gozaimasu)- thank you (very much)
	demo- but
	gomen (nasai)- I'm sorry
	onii-chan- affectionate way of addressing an older
		brother	(or close older male friend)

Author Notes:

	College has already begun and the Cycle of Tears
begins again for me. I'll be working hard this year so
new chapters will be slower (hehe...not that they weren't
already -_-!). But I promise to finish this series, even
if most people aren't interested in the story anymore.
I owe it to those few new friends that have given me so
much encouragement.
Until the next chapter...

~The moonlight carries the message of love.~
~Tsuki no hikari wa ai no message.~