Authors: Usa (Usako0@aol.com) and Emiri (bunny_s_@hotmail.com)
Rating: R (violence, language, bad things)
Disclaimer: Usagi, her friends, the cats, and Mamoru belong to Takeuchi Naoko-sama, Kodansha Ltd, TOEI Animations, and Bandai Entertainment. The bad guys, Satsujin (murder) and Korosu (kill) were created by Emi and I.
Notes: We must warn you that this is a VERY dark ficcie. Bad things almost happen to a female... Emiri dared me to write a ficcie without a hospital scene in it, and so, here we are! ^_^ *cheers from the masses* Enjoy, and please send review, we love getting mail!
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Forest of Despair
Part 1
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Mamoru slipped out of his tent, and listened. All was quiet from the next tent over. Finally, the girls had fallen asleep. It had been a big mistake to come camping with Usagi and her friends, he reflected miserably. He was covered in mosquito bites, sunburnt, and the two of them never had a moment alone. His back ached from sleeping on the ground, and it was hard trying to relieve himself with five girls always in earshot. But now they were asleep, so Mamoru went out to do his business. He walked off a little ways into the woods, half-covering his flashlight and fearing the creatures that went bump in the night. He found a suitable tree, and was about to go when her heard male voices.
He looked ahead, and spotted two men carrying something large. They threw it into a deep hole in the ground, and began to shovel dirt on top of it. 'They're burying a body!' he realized. Mamoru tried to sneak away, but he stepped on a twig. The men turned to look. "Who's there?" the larger one demanded.
A flashlight beam suddenly hit Mamoru's eyes, and he was blinded. He heard the men approach him, but was too stunned to move. The next thing he felt was a whack in the back of the head, and then blackness.
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Usagi was actually the first person to get up in the morning. She had told Mamoru that she wanted to get up to watch the sunrise with him. After dressing, she left the tent and went to his.
"Mamo-chan!" she said. "Are you ready yet?"
Usagi noticed that the tent was opened and peeked inside. Mamoru wasn't in it. *He probably went to relieve himself.* she thought.
The sun rose 20 minutes later with no sign of Mamoru. Usagi was beginning to get worried. It wasn't like him to wander off and not tell anyone, especially her. And she knows he wouldn't get lost...
Makoto snuck up behind Usagi and poked her in the sides. "Ahh! Mako-chan!"
"Why are you up so early, Usagi-chan? And where's Mamoru-san?"
Usagi shook her head. "I don't know where he is. We were supposed to watch the sunrise together but I haven't seen him at and he's not in his tent."
"Hmm....he probably went to use the bushes," Makoto said flippantly. "I'm gonna start breakfast for minna!"
"But, Mako-chan, 20 minutes?"
"20 minutes what?" Makoto yawned. "My brain isn't fully awake yet."
"I haven't seen him since i got up 20 minutes ago!" Usagi's eyes teared up. "Mako-chan, I'm worried."
"Oi, what is that Odango whining about now?" Rei asked with a yawn.
Minako yawned and sat up. "Nani?" she blinked sleepily.
"Minna, get out here!" Makoto ordered.
Artemis and Luna ran to them from the lake. "What's going on?" Artemis asked.
"Mamoru -san is missing," Makoto told everyone
"Nani?" Ami asked. "How do you know that?"
"Because he isn't in his tent and we were supposed to watch the sunrise," Usagi cried.
"He's been gone for 20 minutes, so we know he's not using the bushes."
Usagi was crying harder now. "Longer than that now, Mako-chan."
"Will you turn off the water works, Usagi?" Rei said crossly.
Usagi merely stuck her tongue out at Rei. "Hey, this is serious," Minako intervened.
"She's right, Rei-chan," Ami replied, pulling out her computer. "Perhaps there's some way I can pinpoint his location." Ami set to work.
"I say we get breakfast, get dressed, and look for him," Makoto suggested.
"I don't want to eat!" Usagi exclaimed. "I want to find Mamo-chan!"
Rei was about to say something but Ami gave her a look. "Well, we can't search on an empty stomach," Luna pointed out. "You need food for stength."
Usagi nodded. "Mako-chan, tell me when the food's ready," she said, going back into the tent.
"All right." Makoto nodded, and went to whip up some fast breakfast.
"Minna," Artemis spoke up. "We have to find Mamoru-san or I'm afraid Usagi-chan will lose it."
Soon, Makoto had eggs ready, and was making a big batch of trail mix. Rei went into the tent to get Usagi... who wasn't there!
"Minna! Usagi's gone!"