Disclaimer: The Sailor Moon series and surrounding enterprises are the sole property of Ms. Naoko Takeuchi. I claim no ownership to the saga or its characters and am writing this story for the sole purpose of entertainment.
Hey everyone, this is a work that recent events have inspired me to write. I'm not sure if I'll continue it or not. If anyone would like to see me do so, drop me a line in the reviews section. No flames please, but constructive criticism is welcome.
This first chapter is actually a series of flashback Usagi's having while indulging from her parent's wine cabinet…just wanted to clear up any possible confusion.
Bullet to my Heart
"Gomen nasai, Usagi-chan…" Rei whispered… "Gomen nasai.' "Rei! No!" I screamed before the gunshot left my ears ringing.
*thump*
"Tsukino-san?" Dr. Yamamoto inquired. "Yes?" I replied. "Hino-san is one very lucky young woman. Luckily the bullet missed all major internal organs. She will, however, have to spend some time in the psychiatric care unit once she heals from her incision." "I understand sir," was the only response I could give at the moment. "If you'd like, you may see her before she's transferred." I could only nod and walk into the ICU room that held the one person I considered my twin sis – though the other scouts never would know that by the way we constantly bickered. Truly, they were all my sisters, but there had always been something between Rei and I that let us harangue each other without worry.
*thump*
She was so frail…there was no color in her cheeks, and she gave only a small moan as I brushed her bangs away from her face. I hesitated a moment as I felt my heart scream in agony at her condition. "Doushite, Rei-chan? Doushite…" I whispered. Seconds turned into minutes, and soon the ever-vigilant head nurse was escorting me out of the room. Before I went, I placed a small, sisterly kiss upon her brow, murmuring "Aishiteru, my twin, as I left."
As I passed into the waiting room, the rest of my motley band of sisters and guardians joined me. Mamo-chan had gone back to America after Galaxia's departure, and I really didn't have the heart or the stomach to tell him what had happened at the moment. "Usagi-chan?" the rest of the scouts inquired. I simply shook my head.
*thump*
"I'm sorry Usagi-chan, but Rei-chan has made it clear she wants nothing to do with you," Mina-chan said with sadness. "You have to let her decide the terms of your friendship."
"But what have I done?" I cried as my heart proceeded to metaphorically bleed out in my chest. Ever since that one, brief visit I had managed with Rei, I hadn't been allowed to see her again. However, no one seemed to want to tell me anything.
*thump*
"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT YOU STUPID BLONDE!" Rei's grandfather, usually nice – though perverted – shouted. I clutched my cheek at the stinging sensation left behind by his slap. In the face of my everlasting hope that had saved us all in times past, I had made my way to the temple to try to see if I could find out the status of Rei's condition. She had been transferred earlier that week to the psychiatric hospital, but no one could figure out where or how she was doing. What a fool I had been… I could only cry as I wondered why it seemed that everyone was abandoning me. Why hadn't Mamo-chan returned my calls?
*thump*
"I know how you feel, hime, but everything has its own time," Setsuna told me. "But she won't talk to me to even tell me why she's blaming me!" I exclaimed. "MY HEART IS BREAKING INTO A MILLION PIECES AND NOONE WILL TELL ME A DAMN THING!" Setsuna could only stare silently as her eyes swam with regret.
*thump*
"I'm so sorry this is happening," my lover held me close. This was the most comfort I had had, but my head was still spinning from the last few days. "Usako…I have no idea why, but she's told everyone you were one of the reasons why. That she hates you. I really….I really didn't want to be the one to tell you, but everyone agreed you might take it better coming from me," Mamoru whispered – his voice cracking. I gasped, "Nani? Iie! Iie!" I pushed my fiancé sharply away and ran from his apartment. He had flown in for the holidays when he had heard about Rei. Telling him was one of the hardest things I had made myself go through. Re-living all of it was so incredibly painful. "Usako, wait!"
I raced on foot through the cold rain all the way home. It had been relatively mild this winter, with no snow in sight. I was thankful, and didn't care as the rain burned icy holes into my skin as I ran. Once to my front porch, I collapsed and emptied my stomach of its contents until blood ran down the pavement from the strain. The last thing I remember is my mother coming to the door and screaming – then the strong, warm arms of my papa carrying me to my room. The next few days were a blur of bed rest and medical procedures. I really didn't give a damn about any of it.
*thump*
These memories hurt so much…why can't I forget…I only want…to forget…. I swirled my sangria in a wine glass I had ninja'd from my parent's cabinet as they were on vacation in the country. My head became cloudy from the alcohol – I had always been a light weight - , but that was ok, better this sensation than the rest.
I heard the most sadistic laughter. Who? I wondered, could be making such a chilling sound. It was then I noticed my full length mirror. In it was the neoqueen, or a mockery of her…she was still breathtakingly beautiful, but with an ebony gown instead of her usual brilliant white. "Does it hurt Serenity?" she murmured, "Take my hand, and I can make it go away." "Promise?" I whispered. "Just take my hand, and you'll see…"
