| I think I might
talk too much, but I'd just like the note that this chapter was
the original beginning of my story. O_o Personally, it baffles me to think
that a) I've managed to create something that's fastly becoming really
long (I have a sequel planned >_;) and b) it came from three seconds
of a dream. Whoo-hoo! Go Dreams!! And speaking of dreams.... *pushes Chibi
Usagi into the spotlight*
Chibi Usagi: *ahem* On behalf
of MAMi-chan, I'd like to clear up Quatre's dream. MAMi-chan claims that
"The Dream" is derived from reading too much X/1999 and she thought the
sight of me being crucified, and being the mother of the Earth would be
cool. What's up with that?! I'm her favorite character, and she wants to
see me strung up to die?! You're sick Michelle! Sick sick sick SI-
Michelle: Usagi....!!!
Chibi Usagi: Um, yeah. Anyway,
the symbolism from "The Dream" comes purely from my roles as a martyr and
mother. She claims it's my destiny to be the mother of the universe, or
something like that. Plus I seem to die a lot. However, that freaky dream
will
affect the way Quatre acts around me...
So does that answer some questions
about "The Dream"? Mmmkay...
Von of Chaos: Woah,
slow down! Usagi hasn't even met her enemies yet! How are we supposed
to know how she'll act? (Well, I know, but still...) She is a bit older
than she was in the original so she'll be acting more mature, won't she?
Samantha: No, they didn't
really
die
from heart attacks. You'll find out a bit more about what happened now.
Usagi Aisa Maxwell: It's
very kind of you to say that! *goes starry eyed* I always wanted to be
a writer...but I can't keep deadlines, for the life of me. -_-; Plus, I
think I'm developing dyslexia... And yes, I was sore for a week! Then I
had to perform in a dance concert, and I was sore for another week! Now
I'm all better. (Err...now that I'm getting back to this, scratch that.
I'm sore from dancing again ^.^;;)
More Author's Notes:
-For anyone interested, there
is a map of Juuban (as per Sailormoon continuity. I've never been, so I
don't know how accurate it is) that can be found here.
And I really think you should visit all of that site, because it's pretty
cool.
-Also, gomen, about the Nurse
in the beginning of this chapter. I doubt anyone will get it, but I just
love that hairstyle...(the series looks a bit bad though)
-And as another note, I'm using
American school ranking systems, because I'm pretty sure the majority of
my readers know what the 'ABC' scale is, but not the percentile scale that's
used in Japanese schools.
-ALSO (lots of notes) the suffix
'sensee' can be attached when referring to a doctor as a well as a teacher.
'Sensee' only means, loosely translated, 'one who was before me' so it
refers to anyone in a position of authority or respect.
-All hail Akazuki Ice Cream!
And the Miko Float! And damn my city for not selling it!! (I've only been
able to find it in a resturant...*sniff*) Oh, and Crown is actually kind
of far away from Mugen...whoops. ^_^;;
-'Sera Muun' is the romaji of
'Sailormoon'. That's how it's pronounced in Japanese. I think it sounds
too cool, so when people SAY the senshi names, I'm writing them in romaji.
-Hayaku means 'quickly' or in
this case, 'hurry up'
'ni nari' means 'to become'
or 'I want to be'
'kangofu' (pronounced
'kan-go-who') means 'nurse'
'fuku' means 'uniform'
"I'm only happy when it rains
I'm only happy when it's
complicated
and though I know you can't
appreciate it
I'm only happy when it rains."
-Garbage, Only Happy When
it Rains
Stumbling
Towards Destiny
Chapter 2b
Usagi smiled
at Nurse Nanako as she skipped past the receptionist's desk and made her
way behind it to the offices. She was in a good mood that morning, because
not only had her whole family been very supportive of her decision to move
out, but her father had managed to get her a nice suite near the hospital
in the Mugen area. AND it was near Mugen Daigaku, so she could easily get
from school, to work, to home.
'Lucky!'
The Second
Juuban Comprehensive Hospital. Usagi still smiled at the official sounding
title. She had been working as a nurse for about four years now and she'd
learned that the formal title was pretty misleading. Actually, she corrected
herself, the first two years at the hospital had been volunteer work. She'd
just done it for a career studies class, but Usagi found she enjoyed helping
people so much she'd asked to study as an apprentice with another doctor.
The Mugen Daigaku had offered a good nursing program, so she had initially
begged to be transferred to the Mugen Academy, which would send her directly
the College without entrance exams.
Her parents
had been hesitant at first. After all, she was barely maintaining a grade
average of C, and Mugen Gakuen was a prestigious school. She may not have
been able to make it through. It had only been with the constant memory
of the smiles on the children's faces, that she was able to focus on her
goal. Now, she giggled a little at herself. Really, she sounded so dramatic.
Ah, youth...
'Only two more years to go, though!'
she thought to herself, heading into the office of her boss.
"Oi, Shiro-sensee, what's up
for today?" Usagi asked her 'master teacher' as she peeked into some medical
files laying on his desk.
"Ohayo Usagi-chan. It's a busy
day today. First, a young boy in a coma was transferred to our ward last
night. I'd like you to take care of him for now, so I can focus on testing
to find out what's wrong with him."
"No problem! I'll be glad to
get some experience with it!" Usagi smiled.
Shiro-sensee
nodded, and continued, "Also, I'm expecting an intern from Germany some
time today. She's completing a mandatory year abroad in her training. I'd
like you to show her around the hospital when you have time."
"Sure thing Shiro-sensee!" Usagi
smiled as she skipped out of the room. A few seconds later, the expectant
doctor saw Usagi stick her head back into the office with a sheepish look
on her face.
"Room 519, Usagi-chan."
"Arigatoo, Shiro-sensee!"
Usagi thought
about her new assignment as she mad her way through the halls of the hospital.
She really hadn't ever taken care of a coma patient before. She'd learned
about what it involved in class, but from what she remembered it was pretty
menial work she'd be doing. (AN: I am not a doctor. I have no idea
what taking care of a coma victim would be like. Most all medical reasoning
in this fic is false. Bear that in mind) Checking charts, changing sheets,
making sure he got food. Basically, she would have to be a maid. Other
than that, she would just have to as Shiro-sensee.
'I guess I have to just...talk
to him too, and that kind of stuff.'
Usagi smiled
as she opened the door. "Ohayo! O-genki desu ka?" she giggled. "As if you
could answer me...But I bet you're feeling pretty lousy, huh?"
Usagi's chatter
trailed off for a second when she got a good look at the boy she would
be taking care of. He was skinny, and it looked a bit like he'd been underfed.
Yet his muscles were well defined, he was strong and in good shape. He
also looked like he was in desperate need of a haircut. Wild, spiky hair
fell across his face, and into his closed eyes. And he looked...peaceful,
and so...
"Wow! You're gorgeous!" Usagi
exclaimed, then clapped a hand over her mouth quickly. She blushed, and
was suddenly very thankful that her patient was in a coma. She took a second
to compose herself, then reached for the identification charts sitting
on the table beside him.
"Hiiro, huh? Well, Hiiro, it
looks like we'll be spending a lot of time together. Hope you don't mind.
Okay, let's see here...oh my! Two weeks in a coma? That's an awful long
time, isn't it? Can't you get brain damage, or something like that? Well,
don't worry! I promise that I'll do everything I can to pull you out of
this!"
With her little
speech finished, Usagi reach over to the bed and took Hiiro's hand in her
own. However, she gasped and let go when a shock ran through their hands
and up her arm. Usagi quickly pulled her hand up against her chest, cradling
it against herself. She frowned, and tried to rub some of the feeling back
into her arm.
'Wh...what
was that?' she wondered, and looked down at the boy again. 'It didn't hurt
exactly...It was more warm...nice.'
She shook
her head to clear it. She had a lot to do, and sitting there wasn't going
to get it done. She began her more menial tasks, careful not to touch Hiiro
again.
^>^>^>^>^>^>^>^>^>^>^>^>^>^>^>^>
"Oi, Shiro-sensee." Usagi flopped
down into one of the office chairs, and let out a sigh.
"Hn?"
"Where did Hiiro come from? Why did
they send him here? Why is he in a coma? Who's paying all the bills for
him?"
Shiro-sensee chuckled.
"You ask so many questions, Usagi-chan. You should remember it's better
to remain clinical towards patients. But I suppose it can't be helped in
your case. He came from the Minato-ku area in Kyoto about two days ago.
I don't know much more than that. As for who's paying his bills... Zodiac
Designs Unlimited."
Usagi nearly fell
out of her chair. "The video game company!?"
"Yep. I thought it was a bit odd
too. Maybe his parents work there, and it's some kind of new health coverage
plan. Strangely, his medical information lists his parents as deceased."
"Well...mayb it's some other relative..."
"Don't think about it too hard, Usagi-chan.
Anyway, I want you to meet someone. Please wait here a moment while I go
and get her." Shiro-sensee got up from behind his desk.
Usagi sighed again
and sank back in the chair. It was all so weird. There was something missing
to all this, she was certain of it. Especially when the causes of Hiiro's
coma were unlisted. Something was wrong...
'Oh, stop it! You've been reading
too many conspiracy novels!'
"Usagi?" Shiro-sensee's voice shook
her out of her train of thought. He had re-entered the room, with a petite
girl in tow. Although she was short, she was still taller than Usagi (which
did annoy Usagi a bit) and her hair was so dark that it was tinged blue.
Usagi couldn't tell if she'd highlighted that color, but it certainly went
well with her ice blue eyes. The girl looked so nervous, too.
'Maybe she doesn't speak Japanese.'
Usagi jerked at
the thought. She couldn't speak a lick of German. 'Oh, please ohplease
let her speak Japanese...'
"Usagi, this is Mizuno Ami. She'll
be on the research staff for Hiiro. Before you leave today, will you please
show her around the hospital?"
Usagi nodded.
Ami had a Japanese name, so maybe...
"Ohayo, Ami-chan! Doozo yoroshiku."
"Yoroshiku." Ami replied.
'YAY!!'
"Well, come on! This is a big hospital,
and I wanna go get something to eat!" Usagi grabbed Ami's arm, and started
pulling her through the halls, pointing out important people and places
as she went. The laughter of the two girls rang through the hospital as
the whirlwind tour swept through it.
^>^>^>^>^>^>^>^>^>^>^>^>^>^>^>^>
Usagi was glad
to be out of there. Today had been tiring, and just a little bit stressful.
Who knew taking care of a coma patient could be so much work! And then
she had to show that intern around. Not that it was particularly annoying.
In fact, she kind of liked Ami. She was sweet, even though she was a little
bit shy. But still, it was more than she was used to, and now she was exhausted.
What she really needed...was some ice cream.
'Time to go to Crown!' Usagi smiled
to herself and practically ran dow the street, causing the other evening
pedestrians to turn at stare at her in confusion and annoyance.
Unazuki smiled
when Usagi walked through the automatic doors, and signaled to her brother
to fix up the usual. Usagi was probably the only girl in the city who would
stop by Crown at 8:30, but the two always stayed open for her. It was tradition.
"Una-chan!" Usagi called, walking
over to the older girl. She gave Unazuki a huge hug, and hopped up onto
the table top as the older girl went back to sweeping.
"Oh, I had such a busy day today!"
Usagi started, telling Una about everything she had done.
'She's always so enthusiastic. She
hasn't changed at all from when she would come here and talk about her
work as a waitress. Of course, I knew a little about that...'
"Sounds like a hard day. I betcha
a miko float would pick you right up!" Motoki came back, placing the float
next to Usagi on the counter.
"You know it!" Usagi giggled, digging
in. "And a SailorV game!"
The Miko Float
was something of a specialty at Crown. It was created with Green Tea and
Vanilla ice cream, with strawberry mochi mixed in. It was covered with
Akazuki, sweet red bean paste, and whipped cream. All with a cherry on
top. It was Usagi's favorite. The two watched her eat for a few moments,
still amazed that she could pack away food so quickly, without it ever
showing up on her body again.
'Usagi's got a black hole in her
stomach. I'm sure of it.'
When the float
was gone, Usagi hopped off the counter and headed over to the video games
with renewed energy. Today, she would beat that high score even if it killed
her. Plopping down in the seat, she fished some coins out of her skirt
and got ready to fight through yet another level of the game. For the next
hour, occasionally the owners of Crown would hear:
"Ah! Die you stupid monster!"
"What?! No fair! I had him!"
"YES!!! Eat THIS!!"
"Ha ha! Cant hit-HEY!"
Soon, Usagi was
down to the last of her pocket money. With a strange determination, she
plunked it into the machine and started up the game. The beginning levels
were easy. She'd played them more times than she could count. She began
to tune out the music coming from the game, and let her hands move from
rote as she zipped through the levels. She didn't even realize how far
she had gotten until the game started playing much louder music that snapped
her out of her trance.
"Huh? What's this?" She had gotten
another game over but it was at.....
"Level 37?! Sugoi...I've never gotten
that far before!"
Apparently, neither
had anyone else. The score screen came up, asking for her to place her
name. In the first place slot.
"Whoo-hoo!" U-Sa-Gi (AN: Most games
allow three characters, and in Japanese, Usagi's name consists of three
characters.) The game beeped again, and dispensed a pretty pink pen with
a red jewel on the cap. Usagi picked it up, a little confused.
"Hey, Motoki-kun? SInce when has
this game given out prizes?" Usagi turned to join with her friends, who
were just about to lock up. Motoki shrugged, and glanced down at the pen.
|
