I lift my head. A rose, yes, a red rose lay in front of me, stuck in the now cracked cement. And the figure above... a cape waves in the slight wind. It moves to show the wearer.
Seiya. It is Seiya. Why now? Why must I be reminded...
I remember my duties. Sailor Tin Cat stands in front of me. I must heal her... but that would require standing up and pushing back my emotions, and the tears that threaten to spill, and run down my face, to puddle around the rose that is so like Mamo-chan's. But I must fight. I must remember my friends, I must remember... Chibi-Usa. The proof of our love. I will fight for Mamo-chan. Then I will go home and cry. Write another letter that will not be answered. Call his home to hear his voice on the answering machine.
I stand. Seiya watches from above. I pull out my wand. I move slower than I usually do when activating the healing capabilities of the wand, weighed down by my grief, the sorrow that is heaped at my shoulders.
"Silver Moon... Crystal Power Kiss!" I yell. The healing waves shoot out from the wand to Tin Cat, but she steps into her transporting booth before the wand fully completes it's duty.
Silence. My shoulders slump as I stare at the rose. One tear falls to land beside the rose, then the tears of heaven rain down, crying with me. I hear Seiya's footsteps as he comes closer and stands in front of me.
"When I think about it... I'm not good at enduring things..." I say slowly, still staring at the rose.
"What?" he replies, startled.
I lift my head to look at him. "For example, even if I decide to work on my homework today, I easily lose myself and I eat snacks till I am full and sleepy... Actually, I often fall asleep after that..." I pause slightly, my voice wavering. The tears start coming faster. "I though I had a strong will to go on... but when I saw that rose..." the tears exploded. Memories of my Mamo-chan and I filled my head. "I remembered him!"
"Odango," he started to say.
"Even though I can't hear his voice except on the answering machine... and I haven't received any letters, I thought it was okay. I could survive just just by myself. But... but... I just can't stand being by myself!" The tears still flowed. I slumped to the ground onto my knees. I needed Mamo-chan. I need you Mamo-chan! my soul cried. Where was the bond we shared? It wasn't there... just a cold, empty void.
"Odango..." he tried again.
"I want to see you... I want to see you Mamo-chan!" I cried in agony.
I felt Seiya place his hands on my shoulders and kneel beside me in the still falling rain. Tears still ran down my face, mingling with the rain water that hit my cheeks.
"Am I not good enough?" Seiya asked softly. I looked up at him, the tears slowing. What did he mean?
"Am I not good enough?" he repeated, more urgently than last time.
I looked into his eyes, feeling the presence of the scouts at the doorway.
"Usagi..." I heard Rei whisper.
The rain still fell. Seiya still gripped my shoulders and stared into my eyes with a gaze of open love and warmth.
My soul still cried. Finally, it called softly, Mamo-chan, where are you?
There was no answer. Just a deep, dark silence.
Then, as faint and delicate as a butterfly's wing, it came:
Usako.
Disclaimer: This would not be a fanfic if I were not a fan.
By the way, all the lines between Usagi and Seiya in there are taken from the episode... which I have forgotten the name of. The little 'Light of Hope' as I like to call it at the end is something I made up.
