Darkness in their Hearts
By Nocturnal Lobster
Summary: The Sailor Scouts have been captured and brainwashed by the enemy to destroy Sailor Moon and Silver Crystal. Even with Mamo-chan by her side, how will Usagi fight her friends?
Chapter 2
Mamoru sat in a chair next to Usagi's bed. She was propped up by pillows and stared at her untouched food. Besides the minimal pain on his shoulder, the physical reminder of the previous battle was gone but what he had brought back was a broken girl, which was a constant reminder to him of the extent of the battle. His Usako, now, hardly spoke and the magic twinkle in her bright blue eyes had disappeared completely.
"Usako, Ikoku Mama tells me that you'll be going back to school tomorrow. That's great." He watched her carefully for a reaction. There was none. "I'll drop you, okay. I'll pick you up too." Still, she didn't react. He was used to this though. She had hardly spoken since he had dropped her home the day after the battle. The battle must plague her in her dreams just like it did to him, he assumed. Mamoru took a spoon full of soup and fed it to her. Her actions were almost mechanic- she open her mouth upon the touch of the spoon and swallowed the contents and let the cycle repeat. It hurt Mamoru to shreds but he had to be there for his Usako. Artemis was the same way while he stayed at Mamoru's apartment. Darien had brought Luna to stay there also to cheer up Artemis. Just like he took care of his Usako, Luna bravely took care of Artemis. He realized how alone his Usako must feel without her guardian cat, but being around Usagi, he didn't want Luna to break apart either.
"You know, you'd be the only girl in your school, whose boyfriend would pick her up. It will make the other girls so jealous." He spoke with a renewed cheeriness for his dear.
"I rented a car because my motorcycle is not practical in this case. Oh also, Ikoku Mama put your crutches next to your night table so you can move around. And guess what, after school, you're coming over to my place. Luna really misses you, you know." He spoke to his Usako even though he got no reply. He smiled for her even though she didn't look at him. He finished feeding her though with the same spirit and talked to her some more.
"Usako, my Usako. I love you so much." He kissed her on her forehead as he stood up. "I have to go home now but I'll be back to pick you up tomorrow, okay. Hope you feel better tomorrow." Taking the empty bowl and spoon, he reached the door when her voice halted him.
"Mamo-chan, I can't go." Her voice was so tiny, he wasn't sure he had heard her properly. There was a thunder of happiness within him that she had reacted, but he calmly let the bowl down on her night table and came back to hold her hand. She had tears in her eyes.
"They won't be there, Mamo-chan." She suppressed her sobs. He wondered why she tried to be so strong. He wanted her to cry her sadness out; he couldn't watch her lifeless again. It killed him to see her like that and the more she tried to control those tears from spilling, the angrier he got. There was no way he was going to let his Usako fall into depression again. He was going to make her show emotion and if she wasn't ready to smile then she would cry.
"Usako," With his fingers, he held her chin up so she was looking at him, his fury. "They are gone. You saw them and you're right, they won't come back but that can't stop you from living. You understand me. There are many people who love you and are worried for you and for them- you have to live, if you can't for yourself."
One tear, two tears, they fell from her eyelids as she processed what Mamoru had said.
"I can't," she whimpered her eyes begging for him to understand and her chin forcing his fingers to lower. She had accepted defeat from her enemy.
Mamoru's anger melted right away but for her sake, he would remain strong. "You will go to school tomorrow. I promise you that tomorrow, Usagi, you will be in school."
Usagi's eyes flashed anger and with her hand, pushed his fingers from her chin, regaining control her head. "I can't go to school. It reminds me of them; the fact that I failed them; the fact that they are gone because I couldn't protect them; the fact that my friends are gone and I am alone now!" Her gaze pierced him with that same anger for a minute before he spoke again, more calmly and sweetly this time. He wasn't angry at her outburst; on the contrary, he was happy to see anything but sadness in his Usako's eyes.
"Usako, listen to me calmly, okay. Think about what you're doing to yourself. Is that what your friends would want you to do?" He let her reflect for a minute. "They would want you to continue living your life to the fullest. Usako, they would want Sailor Moon to protect the world they loved. They risked their lives protecting you because they knew that you would protect the world that they love. So Usako," this time he loving cupped her face, "you have to go to school, you have to become happy again. You're not alone, okay. You have your family, Naru, and me, Usako. I'm right here."
"I miss them, Mamo-chan." She squeaked.
"I know; me too. We won't forget them. We'll fight for their mission, okay Usako. You and me." He smiled giving her hope and courage.
"Mamo-chan?" She whispered, "You won't leave me too, will you?"
He didn't know how to answer that. He hadn't forgotten about their enemy so soon to be able to hush his doubts and answer his girlfriend. "Usako, I'll always be in your heart."
He was sure that she had understood why he hadn't answered her straightforwardly but he was grateful that she accepted the answer and forced a smile to appear. This was the first smile he had seen her manage in weeks- his brave Usako.
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"It feels great to be home again," the brunette looked around her cozy studio apartment. She sighed looking around. The plants hadn't been getting enough water or proper sunlight and were dying. She shook her head grabbing the jug from her kitchen, "I go away for a little bit and this is what happens."
She always felt comforted looking at the plants full of life. Living alone wasn't her ideal dream and so having these living flourishing plants, she didn't feel as lonely. Besides, her apartment was too small for pets.
Next to her young seedlings, she puzzled at a picture of her and a shadowed color cat with a crescent moon bald spot on its forehead. She couldn't remember when this picture was taken nor could she remember the cat. It was strange, both their smiling faces gave away their friendship but as far as she recollected, this cat was a stranger to her. Maybe it wouldn't be that bad to have a pet, she thought to herself.
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Mamoru came just as he had said the night before to pick up Usagi for school. She looked just as beat up yesterday but she was balanced on her crutches with a renewed strength. Her uniform was crisply pressed and her hair was neatly done into two buns but her eyes gave away her condition. Seeing her beloved's face as he pushed his door open got out of his car, Usagi let herself smile.
Without the exchange of words, he took her school bag and placed it on the back seat. He then helped her into the car. Normally Usagi would love to get pampered by her boyfriend. She loved the chivalry in men; how they opened the door for their lady; how they held on to their girlfriend's bags and books; this was what made Usagi's heart melt and Mamoru knew that. But today was different. The strong soldier, Sailor Moon; Usagi, needed help doing the little things she could've done herself. So Mamoru didn't speak and didn't bring attention to the fact that his Usako was any different than any other day.
Once in the car, she decided to end the silence.
"Mamo-chan, am I really coming over to your place after school?" She asked as sweetly as she could manage. She was trying to practice for when she had to pretend in school that she was okay.
"Your mom has been wondering why you haven't seen the doctor ever since your initial accident. And if you go the doctors, I'm sure they'll see it as a medical miracle that your sprain has already healed and your fracture is healing faster than it does for average people. I told her that I'd take you to the doctors. So I thought that it would make for a nice excuse for you to come over." He winked at her, looking at her for just a second as he drove on.
"Is that because of the silver crystal- the healing?" The dreadful feeling came back to her. If she could only find the Scouts' body, she could try healing them with the crystal; she would try her best. But…
"I believe so, there's Naru. Usagi, remember, do this for them okay. Smile?" He parked the car where Naru stood waiting for them outside of the school. Usagi nodded and managed to pull off a genuine smile.
This time Naru helped her out the car and with her belongings, into class. She tried to avoid even glancing at the spots where Ami, Makoto, and Minako sat and she was succeeding quite well and her mom was right. Being around Naru and Umino did make her feel lighter. She felt like she used to, without any responsibility on her shoulders, just like she did before Luna appeared to her.
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"I don't think I'll go to school today, Mom." The blue haired beauty walked to the computer desk where her mother was busy typing away. She rubbed her eyes and yawned.
"It's okay, sweetie. I think you're experiencing jet lag. I actually had an idea." Her mother had diverted her attention from the screen the blinked in front of her. "What if I write you a note for school that you're sick and you rest for this whole week?" She mused.
Just for a moment, her mother's words shook her and she was wide awake. "You can't be serious and I don't think that it would be a good idea to skip out on one more week of school. Do you know how much I'll fall behind?"
"Minako and Makoto are in your advanced classes now right? Just get the notes from them. And I'm sure Home Room is not where you will fall behind." Her mother's mind worked like a master mind. There was something she was hiding still.
"I still can't believe that they registered and passed the entrance exams for these classes." The ocean spirit laughed. "As far I know, especially Minako, struggled with all her courses. Makoto though always had potential to be great." Her friends were truly surprising.
"Maybe something was holding them back." Her mother added and turned her attention to the screen. "I might as well tell you the truth then."
The blue haired girl knew that was coming.
"Your dad has offered to take you to the valleys for a week." Her mother said dryly, not paying attention to her daughter anymore. Annoyed was what her daughter had coined her mother's mood whose eyes lit up, even bluer than before, if possible.
"Really, Dad? Can I bring my friends?" She asked her mother eagerly.
"I don't see why not, I'll message him so he'll be prepared. How many friends you have in plan, Ami?" Her mother was happy to hear that Ami was finally making friends and was happy.
"With me, five." She said quickly but then a thought interrupted. They were Rei, Makoto, and Minako. With her, that made four, not five, yet five was such a natural number. "I mean four, Mom."
"Okay sweetie, I'll let your dad know. Go back to bed and let me do some work," her mother laughed, half pushing her daughter. Ami felt glad that she and her mother shared such a special relationship. Her mother meant everything to her and so did her friends.
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"It feels like forever since I last came to your place Mamo-chan." Usagi struggled to get out of the car in the garage. Mamoru quickly came to her side and helped her out and gave her the crutches to lean on.
"Are you hungry? I think I have left over pizza but I can whip up some pretty mean fried rice." Usagi eyed Mamoru suspiciously as they waited for the elevator.
"Umm… are you hungry?" She asked awkwardly as they entered the elevator. Mamoru pushed the eleventh floor button.
"So much Usako. And I could go for some pizza." He answered and Usagi glared at him this time which surprised Mamoru. "What's wrong, Usa?"
"I know what you're doing but stop." She responded through clenched teeth as the elevator stopped at their floor. She used her crutches to leave the elevator in a rush.
"Usako, wait." Mamoru hadn't a clue what he had done that had offended her. He wanted an explanation.
"I'm not sick Mamo-chan. You don't need to act extra-happy. Are you scared I'll get depressed again?" She was close to tears but her anger was flashing at him. He understood now; he was acting differently. Usually, he was not this cheerful; Mamoru was somber; hyper was Usagi's department.
"Usa, you know, I love you but you're foolish. One of us has to be hyper. If it's not you, then it's me. It's how our relationship works. I know you're not sick, Odango." He answered laughing. She stared at him as if he was crazy. He was incredibly unpredictable. "Now I don't care what you think Usa, I'm going to carry you into my room and if you don't like it, too bad." He didn't even give her a second to process what he said. He swept her up and let her crutches fall to the ground.
She yelped first then yelled for her crutches but he steadily walked into the apartment laying her on the couch. She puffed out fumes but it didn't affect him one bit. He went back out presumably to get her crutches and school bag.
When he entered his apartment again, he found her hugging Luna. If Mamoru had a camera, he would have captured the scene in front of him. Usagi was full of love. But Artemis was no where around.
"Where's Artemis, Luna?" He asked as he put away her book bag and crutches.
"He goes to Minako's home a lot and stands on a tree branch and stares at her bedroom window." She answered morosely. He noticed both their eyes lower with sadness.
"He'll be okay, Luna. We will always remember them and fight for them." Usagi's words surprised Mamoru. She had even smiled. Usagi was indeed getting better and seemed to have comforted Luna.
"I will go and check up on him. I missed you Usagi." Luna licked Usagi's hand and Mamoru let her out.
"Guess we're alone, Mamo-chan." His Usako was full of surprises. "I am hungry for pizza too." Her pout was the cutest. He felt his heart warm up and felt that things would be okay now.
"Two minutes then; let me just warm them." He disappeared into the kitchen and just like he said, two minutes later, he presented two slices of pizza, one for Usagi and one for himself. They ate in silence glancing at each other every two minutes.
If the situation was different, they would not be talking then too. They would not even be eating. Usagi would be under Mamoru's covers kissing him for a good two minutes every two seconds.
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Luna saw Artemis peeking in Minako's bedroom window; surprisingly, Luna thought he was alert and not morose like he was when he had left. She called out to him startling him to a fall. Luna yelped and ran to his side.
"Are you okay?" she pawed his body. She didn't think he had even felt her touch or barely the fall even. He jumped up.
"There's someone in her room." He told her wide eyed and excited. Luna was confused; maybe illusions were part of depression, she thought.
"Are you okay, Artemis?" She asked sulkily again.
"Luna, I'm not joking. I saw a shadow in her room. I could make out long blond hair." He took a long breath then continued just as excited, "I can feel it. It's her."
This time Luna was not amused. "We didn't even find their bodies, Artemis. Do you understand? Their powers disintegrated their bodies. How could it be her?"
"Trust me; I can feel it's her, Luna." Artemis replied more determined and Luna sighed.
Without arguing further with Artemis, she used her own cat agility to climb the tree branch leaning towards Minako's window. She tapped it as hard as she could three times and jumped back down next to Artemis.
"Watch, it'll be her. Wait." Artemis was pacing to the tree and back.
Suddenly a mop of bright yellow hair was visible through the cracks of the blinds. Then the window slowly opened and Artemis thought he was going to have a heart attack right there. Peering out her window was his mistress, Minako. She looked around curiously then looked towards the two mesmerized cats.
"Hey kitties, did you tap at my door?" She laughed. "Are you cuties lost?"
Artemis was about to speak to her but before he could, Luna pounced on him taking the wind in him out. Artemis yelped.
"That's not a nice kitty. You shouldn't hurt your boyfriend. Stay there, I'll come right down." Just like that Minako disappeared.
"Are you insane?" Artemis yelled at Luna.
"She doesn't remember us." Luna responded softly. "She doesn't know us and that we can talk."
"We'll just bring it back then." He answered stubbornly just as the front door opened.
"Oh good, you're okay." She patted Artemis back. Before she could divert her attention to Luna, Artemis faked collapsing causing Minako to worry over him. This allowed Luna time to bring her memories back.
Luna was getting worried. There was no reaction by her. It wasn't working. Artemis opened his eyes slowly causing Minako to breathe a breath of relief. He glanced at Luna understanding perfectly that it hadn't worked.
"You know kitty, you look just like a kitty I once had. I have pictures in my room, you want to see?" Just like that, Minako carried Artemis in and Luna followed. Her room was just how they remembered it before the big battle. There was a made bed cluttered with clothes, a table with pictures, and lanterns of different sizes.
"See, that was my kitty. He looks just like you but mom gave him away." She showed them a picture of her hugging Artemis. "These are my friends. See?"
There were the girls, Ami, Rei, Makoto, and Minako as herself. Luna noticed it first, Usagi was not in it. The space that Usagi would have taken was emptied out. She looked at Artemis startled. This did not seem like ordinary memory loss, Minako seemed to remember everything but her life with Sailor Moon, which included them, Luna and Artemis. Luna wondered if she still had her Venus powers. As much as he loved Minako, Usagi was just as dear and realized the glitch seconds after Luna. One thing was for sure, they needed to get out of the house right away to figure things out.
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Standard disclaimer applies
Author's Note: Hmmm… many hits, added as fav stories but not no reviews. I would really like some input. I haven't writing the story although I have the basic plot in my mind. So provide feedback. I'd like to know what way you'd like the story to go. Thanks for reading!