Act II, Chapter II
Boyfriends and Blind People
"So it's now been how long since you woke us up in a panic in the middle of the night? And woke all our powers up into an active form?" Rei asked a little annoyed. To tell the truth it had been long enough that I hadn't kept count I really had no clue how long it had been. But since it was now June first, I think I would have to guess about six months. But the enemy hadn't been active at all since then.
And my sketches haven't given us any clues, because somehow every time I try to draw it turns out looking like scribbles, I don't know how it does it either. The fire hasn't been any help either; Rei hasn't seen anything since she saw me. Michiru hasn't seen anything in the mirror, and Setsuna hasn't said a single word to anyone since she told me I was wrong that night. I'm pretty sure it's the enemy, but no one will believe me.
"Dunno," I said with a little shrug. I didn't feel like admitting that I kind of did. I was trying to write something. Maybe I'd get a premonition through that It wasn't working, I have a complete writer's block.
"Leave her alone, she's trying. I know she heard something," Hannah's Japanese had gotten a lot better these last couple of months. The girls could understand her every time, without my intervention.
"Yeah, a nightmare. You've heard her; she's had a nightmare almost every night since then. I bet it was just a stupid nightmare, I don't even think there is an enemy at all," Rei said tapping the eraser of her pencil against the edge of my desk.
"No, I was still awake when I heard it. And I transformed before I heard it. I felt this pain, but it wasn't really pain exactly. I guess it was just really sudden and kind of sharp, like it only lasted a second. I jumped up, and transformed. And ever since I've felt the throbbing It's constant now, but It's not strong enough to figure out where it's coming from," I told them again. I'd told them what happened that night so many times I think they're starting to think I really am crazy.
"We know, you've told us," Rei was being really horrible to me, even worse than before. When she talks to me it's just to tell me I'm crazy basically. Most of the time she just ignores my presence in the world.
"Uh-huh," I muttered quietly. I crumpled my paper up and tossed it towards the trashcan. It missed, of course. I mean I was on the other side of the classroom. But it made me feel better.
This one guy in our class was the one to pick it up. This guy is really big on littering, and he also seems to really hate me as if I needed more people, what with my sister's silence since Christmas, Rei's evilness, and my own current self loathing. Yeah, I really didn't need help.
"You shouldn't throw your trash," This guy? Yeah his name's Lance. I really hate his name. Because he comes from Florida, he lived there his whole life, up until two years ago, when he moved here. But everyone thought that he would e really good friends with me and Hannah, because the two of us were also from State-side. But no such luck, he hates me and he's indifferent to Hannah. The only good thing is that he speaks to us in English, rather than Japanese.
"Yeah, well throwing towards the trashcan was better than throwing it at Rei's head, or yours," I said menacingly. I seemed to have picked up a talent or menace over the last couple of months. I'm very proud of it.
"Whatever," Lance sat down at his desk, but he took the paper with him. I turned to watch him as he read it. To my surprise he got really pale! I mean he is kind of pale, what with having nothing to do with sports in his entire life, and his natural paleness, it comes out as an almost paper white. Which is not helped by his blondish brown hair. But his eyes were cool. They had this bright hazel color. Well maybe it wasn't hazel, it was somewhere in between blue and green.
In fact this guy looks a bit washed out. Plus, he tend to make it worse by wearing these wireless glasses, and the school colors are so bright I feel sorry for him. I mean he just looks lost in those bright colors.
"Hey, you shouldn't read other people's writing!" I yelled after stomping across the room and standing over his desk. I snatched the paper from his desk where he was drawing something on it. After the paper got torn in half something caught my eye; it was a tiara drawn in perfect detail, right in the corner. Behind it (drawn lighter with the tiara covering part of it) was a rose with a petal falling. I looked up at him in shock. He stared right back at me.
Right about here I'd like to say that this is the kind of moment that usually only happens in your head. To my extreme discomfort, his is really what happened.
Lance leaned in until his lips were only an inch or so from my face. I felt his breath hot, and fast, as if he had just run a mile.
This is the moment when the anime character melts into complete nonsense. Well that's pretty much what my mind did.
"Na cöhl ta Meapation, Princess," I swear my eyes about fell out of my head, that's how hard they were popping out. You see that phase is a common phrase used when swearing fealty, well when swearing fealty in Meapation, which I would like to point out is an enchanted kingdom made up by yours truly. So how the hell does he know how to speak Mean!?
"H…how…how…ha?" I swear I did that cool spidery back-up dance thingy that you see ditzy anime characters do all the time when they're nervous.
Lance sort of smiled and said simply, "I meant it when I told you 'All Glory to Meapation' you may call on me any time, princess." Then he did a half bow in his seat, the Western way, which meant a hand to the front and back of his stomach.
Lance let a moment later I mean we were in class late, but I was pretty much unable to say anything coherent. So when Hannah asked me what he said, I told her, in mean. Then went rambling on in the strangest combination of languages. Here's a little snippet:
"…Baka, na cöhl…What the hell! Nosrep diputs. Dumbkopf. Princess, how? HOW THE HELL DID HE KNOW!!..." This went on for quite some time. In case you're wondering the languages went like this: Japanese, Mean, English, Naidrokab, German, English.
The girls tried to shush me multiple times, but it was almost two hours before I could calm down, at all. Then Usagi (who was being strangely quiet) had to meet up with Mamoru, and she decided to drag me along, since she had yet to introduce me to him. I know way weird, right?
"Mamo-chan! This is Mami-chan, she goes to school with us," Usagi said rushing up and hugging him.
"Nice to-hey you look just like that girl!" Mamoru looked really shocked.
"You're not going to start blurting Mean are you? Too much shock to deal with that too," I said in a weary voice, weary enough that I'm pretty sure at least half of it came out in English.
"No, but you look like this girl from a mythology book I was reading a few days ago. In it one of the legends was of a young woman who saved the world from forces of evil, then fell in love with the perfect man for her. If you put a tiara on her head, and a gown with slit sleeves, tall gloves, and suddenly you could be the model for it," Mamoru explained. I'm pretty sure I either got really pale, or else I blushed, I don't know which. I don't blush much so I don't know what it feels like, and the only times I get really pale is when I pass out, which I haven't today. Surprisingly
"That's, um, well that's probably my last life then," I said quietly.
"What?"
"My last life (or one of them) was as Princess Rose Emma-Ann Macay II, heir to the throne of Meapation. With the help of her younger sister, her younger sister's half brother, and a rag-tag band of orphans she defeats the evil Queen Sixela, who sought to defeat Meapation, Osseus, and several other kingdoms whose names I can't remember right now. After the war she goes home, and marries her sister's half-brother Lan, who became one of the most beloved kings in all of Meapation's history," I should really get more sleep since I can't remember four or so kingdoms.
"um, that was pretty much the story,"
"Did they mention Rose's crest? Because it's been distressing me all day. Because when you suddenly see it on a piece of paper you're snatching away from a guy who supposedly hates you, then that guy swears fealty to you, not the best day," I heaved a large sigh.
The three of us had a picnic, which got crashed by Chibi-Usa, and Hotaru a little while later. Then I walked home and as soon as I got home I crashed into my bed and grabbed Mico out of my pocket.
"Analyze today's events for any enemy activity," I told him.
"No enemy activity, however your personal power has multiplied ten-fold. Lance's fealty was heartfelt, and gave you an extreme power boost. Therefore you can currently use your magic outside of Princess Form. Small amounts have now leaked into your normal everyday activities. Be wary of your 17th birthday, at that time your power will increase exponentially, which will increase the power of all the other scouts. At this time it is probable that the enemy will attack," Mico's words stunned me, and it took me a minute to notice that Mico had printed something. It was a picture of my personal crest, "Mami, please give this to Naru's mother to engrave into a men's ring, and also into a woman's ring. Give the men's ring to your vassal, and wear the other one yourself. It is important that you have it with you on your birthday, so that your power will ill it. Then you can find, and call him to you at any time.
One the fourth the rings were done. I put one on my index finger of my right hand, and the next day set the other on Lance's desk. I gave him very brief instructions "wear this at all times, especially the sixth".
He put it on his right index finger as well. I'm pretty sure Rei was watching the whole thing, but it didn't matter that much really.
"What was that?" Of course I knew she had the desk next to me, and I knew she was watching me give Lance the ring, but Rei still startled me ten feet out of my skin.
"It was a ring,"
"For what?" God I think I hate her.
"So that I can keep track of him, he is technically under me, I owe him to do whatever I can, and he will automatically help me when I need it. That's how fealty works. He gives me what he can, and I give back what I can," I told her twisting my ring around my finger.
"And the ring helps how?"
"It's been imbued with my magic, and so I'll be able to find it from any distance," Couldn't she just shut up and go away?
"So what's-" Rei was cut off suddenly. I turned to look, and she was prying at her mouth with her fingers. What now?
"What's with you?" I asked looking at her.
"I couldn't get my mouth to open!" Rei said in shock a moment later.
"Mico?" I asked pulling a charm off my water bottle; I swear he gets crazier everyday.
"A leak of your magic, beware princess,' Mico said in a singsong voice.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," I muttered under my breath.
"What?" Of course she wanted to know. But the bell rang just then, and I had to get home on time today.
"Ask Hannah, I explained it to her earlier!" I called back over my shoulder. I wasn't sure why I was getting a power boost tomorrow, but why ever I still had a house to clean so everyone could come over. I was going to have a party.
Hannah must have explained it, because while I was in the middle of cleaning the downstairs bathroom my earring rang. Mico had switched over to an earring because I wasn't hanging onto my water bottle for dear life anymore.
"Yeah?' I asked into my extension Mico grew.
"Come to the shrine, Now!" Rei ordered, ten hung up on me. I didn't feel like getting shoes, so I used a trick I had learned a few weeks back. It has to do with my princess powers, and how I can change my appearance with a thought. So I switched into a cute Catholic School Girl outfit and rushed out of the house, only pausing long enough to get my purse and drop Mico in. Who knows what he'll be when I pull him out again.
"what's up? I was cleaning," I said as I came up to the whole gang where they were gathered in Rei's room. It was a little crowded.
"you didn't tell us? Why didn't you tell us!" Minako was the one doing the questioning today apparently.
"Because, it wasn't that important. Tomorrow I get a power boost, which boosts the whole group's power, so what? I'm still trying to figure out why the 17th birthday," I told them holding my ground.
"Wasn't that when you decided was a good time of year, and a good age for Rose and Lan to get married?" Corey asked inspecting a bag of German gummis, I'll have to figure out where she found those.
"Oh yeah! And then I decided that-"
"Rose should have her coronation at the same time," Hannah finished for me.
"So, um tomorrow is your wedding?" Usagi asked surprised. I mean she's not even married yet.
"In one of my past lives. I don't really have a guy to marry in this one, in case you've forgotten," I said pushing my hair back with my fingers.
"Yeah, but lives seem to repeat themselves around here," That was Makoto. I guess she was right, but not in this instance. I couldn't get married tomorrow or anything like that. No guy, too young, no book published. Not the perfect time, not even close.
"Not in this case, sorry guys," I said turning to leave again. I still had to clean the third floor today.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Everyone yelled as I sat in front of a cake I made myself. I think I did pretty well myself.
"Thanks everyone," Then I blew out the candles. For the first time, I think in my whole life, I blew out all the candles at once. I smiled slightly. It was because of this power boost thing. It started mid morning and it had been driving me crazy all day. My thoughts seem to be really strong all the sudden, especially with ire. Which made sense since I made Rose's element fire.
"Open my present first!" Brian cried happily. Since I was having my party on my birthday I was opening family presents as well as things from my friends.
"Kee-dokes Booty," I said picking up the small strangely wrapped present. It turned out to be a bundle of new earrings. I, of course, squealed; bad habit of mine.
Everyone had gotten me something, most of t was small, a bracelet, or a necklace or something. But I did get two different Sims 2 Expansions, and four books. Plus I got a boxed collection of all the Sailor Moon Anime in the mail from Marie, and a boxed set of the manga from Hannah.
The only bad thing was the whole time I was living three lives. I was living Megan Kell's birthday with family friends, but I was also living Princess Rose's wedding, and coronation. And the third life was the strangest, because I hadn't lived it before, and I was never physically present. I was living what Lance was doing.
I've decided that these rings are really not all they're cracked up to be. Living two lives is not fun, not fun at all. But living three, do you know how confusing that is? I'm thinking of going catatonic, don't you think it would make life easier?
Of course I knew what was coming. Towards the end of the night I suddenly got chills down my spine.
Well the end of Megan Kell's birthday at least, I had another life still going full tilt. But ignore that. I'm talking about the modern life, the other one has been relegated to an interesting diversion, a very interesting diversion.
I had been putting things away thinking maybe nothing would happen. Well that was just before I heard the screaming. That tends to be a sure fire way to know when your enemies are attacking you. So I climbed out the window (I did get my dad to make it bigger by the way) and transformed. Of course I kind of found myself is something that is a cross between the eternal outfit, and my princess outfit. I o course knew exactly who I was, but I don't think anyone else would have figured out that I was Imperial Sailor Rose. I mean who would have thought of imperial anyway.
Then I got distracted, I think my transforming woke Lance up, because suddenly he was up to something, but I didn't have time to pay attention and try to figure out what. Instead I simply jumped off the ledge outside my window telling Mico to wake the other scouts as I did.
Great, I'm gonna get my butt beat again. Figures.
Well, at least I thought I was.
This was another of those huge slimy vine-thingies. But this one brought friends. It also brought a weird rock-thingy, and a green thing that smelled like mold, so I'm going to call it the moldy-thingy.
The slime thing it turns out is the weakest of the bunch, oh fun. Good thing is that because of this awesomeness power boost, I could hold the stupid thing off. Best part was I only got partially thrashed by the two stronger things. It also turns out that the less disgusting you are, the stronger. Meaning that the rock thing was stronger than the mold thing. But that's fine with me, because I knew that if it was just one of the three I could probably have beaten it with my power boost as Imperial Sailor Rose.
I was starting get tired after about half an hour of this, so I accidentally let my concentration wander, but the smartest move. Because you see my last life was going something I didn't really want to see. Just in case you're wondering why after half an hour I got hit by the rock thing, really hard. I'm pretty sure I passed out because, suddenly A really cute guy was standing over me.
He was wearing gold and silver, and he was shining in the streetlights. If I was a romantic, I most likely would have changed that to moonlight, but it was cloudy, and there was no moon.
But anyway he was in silver plate armor, with gold mail, and golden gauntlets. The entire chest piece was covered with swirling gold lines, but in the center of the chest was what looked distinctly like a crown. It was then that I noticed that he wasn't wearing a helm, but rather a half mask covered his face. Then there was the modest gold and silver braid of metal on his head. And yes that was modest, because he would be wearing some pompous head piece which was overly large otherwise.
But he had light downy brown hair and fairly tanned skin. This must be Lan in this lifetime. I mean who else would come to my rescue wearing a rose on his chest, and a crown on his head.
"You're a bit late," I said sitting up carefully. My head hurt really bad. Good thing was that my last life was finished for now, and sleeping.
"Rose," He said in relief turning to look at me. It was Lan, the turquoise eyes proved it.
"So, um Lan, why so late. This is the second time I got my butt beat," I was still rubbing my head. Lan looked at me curiously.
"Didn't you know where I was? I knew you would be here, at this time, so I timed it. I would have been here sooner, but I kind of fell asleep on watch. It wasn't until my, um, well, watch actually went off did I realize that I was late," Lan explained. I suddenly realized something I had never put in any of my stories.
When you come face to face with the reincarnation of you husband from your last life, it's really bad to have your past life suddenly talking in your head.
I you're wondering why I'm saying this, well it's because Rose was suddenly in my head telling me to kiss him. Which, according to Rose, was perfectly fine because I've already done much more with him in a past life. And because it's so hard to even try to argue with a voice in you head I reached up and kissed him.
It was a very good kiss too. But I think I'm only saying that because it was first kiss. But I don't think it would have been as good a kiss even I it were my twentieth, if it hadn't been Lan.
I'm pretty sure it wasn't just my enjoyment of the moment which stretched my perception o time. I think it was more along the lines of being just a really long kiss. When we came up for air (both of us were panting) we found all the scouts looking down at us.
"Suuure, you don't have a boyfriend," Corey said into the awkward silence.
"Well technically I don't. It's more along the lines of a love from a past life, and a crazy woman talking in my mind," I said stretching out of Lan's hold. At some point he had drawn me really tightly against his chest, he let go only reluctantly.
"Crazy woman?" Hannah said that one.
"Yes, I believe it was Rose,"
"Your past life is talking to you?" All eyes turned on Chibi-Usa. Innocent Chibi-Usa, who has never had to listen to past life which makes her doubt her sanity.
"Yes, it happens sometimes, how do you thin I come up with my stories which are so accurate to my past life? It used to be just my dreams, but now Rose has decided to invade my entire life, leaving me no freedom at all," I told her still partially in Lan's arms.
"Who are you?" Mars asked suspiciously, oh yeah she was here too wasn't she.
"Well, I can only tell you who Rose knows me as, because it may endanger all of you even more if I were to tell you who I am in this life. But Rose knows me as Lan, Elle's half brother, and Rose's husband," Lan said in that beautiful voice of his. It wasn't really all that deep, but it was still perfect in my mind.
"But, isn't Elle Rose's sister?" That was Mercury, she looked nervous.
"Elle is my half sister, Lan is her half brother, there's no family relationship between Rose and Lan until they get married," I told them quietly. I think I liked being up against the metal of Lan's armor, It wasn't as uncomfortable as you might think. The metal wasn't even cold after the time I spent crushed up against it.
"That's one screwed up family you know," Osseus commented, "I mean I know you've told me Lan and Rose aren't related at all, but it still bugs me."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know Hannah-chan," I said jokingly.
Suddenly Lan withdrew his arms from around me. I turned around in shock. Lan had a strange look on his face. He looked at Osseus with a weird look on his face. I think it was a cross between disbelief, and complete shock.
"What's wrong?"
"Hannah? Hannah Richardson? In class 4-A?" I think the shock was on all our faces.
"How do you know that?" Wow, all of us in unison. I turned to look at the girls, and when I turned back Lan was gone.
"Well that sucks," I muttered quietly.
"You seem down today, Princess," Lance said the next day at lunch time. Lance had decided that he wasn't going to die from sitting with us at lunch apparently.
"Yes, well I saw Lan last night," I said with a sigh.
"Your prince?"
"Well I suppose, although he's not really royalty until he married me in our last lives," I shoved my sandwich over towards lance, I wasn't hungry. I wish he could have at least told me who he really was.
"If you say so, but you should eat," Lance set my sandwich back onto my lap I looked over to him, and then reached into my ring. The bond wasn't as strong as it was yesterday, but I could still connect with Lance, or with my last life.
I felt Lance's concern for me. So I picked up the sandwich and bit into it. I wonder what would happen to me if I dove too deeply into my stored magic in the ring. I think I might get stuck in it. But since it would take diving really deeply into the magic to find out if I knew in my last life, I let it at what I knew. Better not to kill myself.
"Thank you Princess," lance said quietly when I took a second bite of my sandwich.
"Of course Lance, you were right. I should eat. If I don't how will I figure out this puzzle in front of me?" I asked rhetorically. At that point Hannah and Usagi came to join us, so I stopped talking.
Hannah of course didn't understand the connection. She didn't even know the proper words to swear fealty in Meapation, but then again she had no reason to know. Just like she had no reason to understand the unique bond which mages formed between the ruler, and those who have sworn fealty. Well that was something any fool in Meapation knew, The problem was that not even the Queen of Osseus bothered to find out about it. I mean how stupid is that?
Usagi would understand it even less. The Moon Kingdom had used a completely separate system, which has no relation to the fealty system. So to try and explain it to her would just confuse her and leave me feeling stupid for not even being able to explain such a simple thing to her.
So either way talking about the connection (and the act that I could sometimes sense Lance's thoughts as well as general emotions) was just too much trouble with these two.
"So what are you talking about?' Usagi asked eagerly.
"Lance was just making me eat. I really want to find Lan, so I've been a bit depressed, Lance noticed (it is his duty to notice) and made me eat my sandwich," I told them taking a very large bite of my sandwich.
"Stupid Mami, you shouldn't obsess about Lan so much even if he was your love in another life," Usagi said trying to sound sage.
"Yes, this from the woman who mooned after Tuxedo Mask long before she knew he was Mamoru," Ami said coming up. How do these people keep appearing just in time to say something witty huh?
"Yes, well we can stop repeating my past stupidness, and focus on my current wisdom," Usagi said haughtily. I took another bite of sandwich and wished I had popcorn, because then I could do a really good anime scene.
"Well your use of the word 'stupidness' proves your lack of wisdom, Or at least your lack of knowledge," Ami pointed out. I hadn't known that 'stupidness' wasn't a word. Although it was in Japanese, so maybe that was why I figured it was a word, I never claimed to have perfect Japanese.
"Well whatever," Usagi looked annoyed, but knew that Ami was smarter than she was ever going to be. Or at least I hope that's what was going through her head, otherwise, we might have problems.
"Hey Lance, You know you don't have to walk me home. People might start to get the wrong idea," I told him as we walked down the street towards the subway station. We had gone to the café after school, and taken Lance with us, he had insisted on taking me home.
"Well if they do, then everything will be all that simpler, then no one will wonder why I've started hanging out with you girls all of the sudden," Lance answered smoothly.
"So, you want to pretend to be my boyfriend, so that people won't look at you strangely?" I was a little annoyed with him. But I don't think it would be that horrible, I mean it wouldn't kill me.
"No, I would do it to protect you from suspicious looks, and to protect your life," Lance said quietly. So he wasn't quite as annoying as I thought then.
"Well, it wouldn't kill us to pretend," I said slowly.
"Yes, and it might kill you not to," Lance said in a very quiet voice. I'm not even positive I heard him say it, but I think I did.
"Well then it's settled isn't it," I said ending the conversation. Lance leaned over a little and grabbed my dangling hand as it brushed past him.
I'm starting to think I'm going crazy. Well I'm starting to think it again.
First of all, I'm starting to hear voices. According to some people that's the first sign of madness. And I did say voices, not just one. Those voices would be Rose, of course, but also what I've begun to think of as the little angel and devil, who always state the two sides of every situation. I think you may know what I'm talking about. In every situation I'm in the angel will tell me the good side of things, and the devil the bad.
The second thing is that I'm hallucinating. I keep seeing people out of the corner of my eye, but when I turn I find no one there. But of the hallucinations the more troubling was that when I looked at Lance I saw other people overlaying him. Sometimes it was Lan in his shining armor, and other times it was people I hadn't seen before, and yet I felt I knew them.
Third is the fact that I'm suddenly having visions in my sleep. Or at least I'm pretty sure they're visions. They're like the nightmares I've had, but they're clearer, and stronger. They stay in my mind even better than the nightmares. Some of these are just as scary as the nightmares, others are pleasant, and nice. I think some of the dreams may have been of my past lives (seeing as at least one of them featured a scantily clad Lan, of course that also might have just been fantasy, or the link I can still feel), and some I think may be of future lives (something about a girl with really long hair living in a world of high technology).
Of course all this has happened in the last week, while I've been pretending to be going out with Lance. You should have seen the look on the girls' faces when they found out we were 'going out'. Usagi's first reaction was to berate me apparently she thinks that if you had a love in the last life, and you know where they are in your current life you should chase after them at all costs and never betray them.
I calmed her down and attempted to explain to her that I didn't actually know where Lan was, and that this was perfectly fine. I'm pretty sure she doesn't believe me.
"Why's Usagi glaring at us?" Lance asked me a few days after Usagi and I argued about the whole Lance and me pretending to be going out thing.
"She's mad at me," I answered grabbing up Lances hand and starting to inspect it His nails were very ragged.
"Why? And why do I have a feeling it's all my fault?" Lance was watching my downturned head; at least I'm pretty sure that's what I saw through my bangs.
"Because she thinks I'm not being faithful to Lan, because I'm pretending to go out with you. Usagi also thinks I'm too good at pretending," I think it might have been fun to his expression, but I still didn't look up, it might have provoked him.
"What? I was right? This is all my fault? I didn't think it would hurt since you have no idea who Lan is right now, only that you think that he'll come and save you again if you're in danger. Please, if this is wrong please don't stay with me, go find Lan. Work harder to find your love of your lives," Lance spilled all this out in a breathless manner. It was here that I made a mistake.
I looked up at his face.
He leaned in and kissed me. I was pretty shocked. I mean who wouldn't be surprised when your pretend boyfriend kisses you after saying that you should stop pretending to go out with him and find the love that has followed you through multiple lives.
"What?" I looked up at him completely shocked when he pulled his lips from mine. The good thing about this kiss? It was almost as good as Lan's.
"I'm sorry; I really shouldn't have done that. That was completely wrong, not at all what I had meant to do, I promise. I really mean it, you should find Lan, but I didn't want to let you go without giving you a good-bye kiss," Lance was still babbling. But I think this babbling Lance is more comfortable to be with than the cold serious one I had always dealt with before this.
"It's okay, I understand, I think. But, I think my search for Lan can wait. In fact I'm not even sure if there is a way to find him without getting myself into extreme danger, like on my birthday," I told him calmly as I edged away from him a little bit.
"So today's the last day of the school year, huh?" Lance said clearly trying to change the conversation.
"Yeah, I guess we won't be seeing each other much for awhile," I was truly sorry about this. Lance was such a nice guy.
"I know where you live, and I have you number programmed into my cell phone. I'll call you, and we can make a date for next week. Maybe we could go somewhere," I'm not even sure exactly why my heart was thumping and warm as he said this. I don't know.
"What did you do?" Usagi asked me in extreme distress.
"Nothing, I did nothing,"
"Yes, you did, I know you did something. Why did you let him kiss you?" Usagi was basically wailing at this point I'd like to point out at this…well point.
"I was simply surprised that's all, It isn't that big a deal," I told her quietly.
"Not a big deal? Not a big deal!?" I swear this girl was going into hysterics. I don't think she is exactly like the how introduced her, or maybe it's just the year or so that I've never seen (because nothing was happening) after they defeated Galaxia. But this girl is defiantly stressed.
"Hush, I think-" I started before I was forced to the ground in pain. Great, the perfect moment for evil forces to attack and attempt to kill me. Wonderful.
"Mami? Mami what's wrong? I nev…" It was at about this point that the pain got to the point of impairing both hearing and eyesight. At least I think it was the pain. But it might have been the attack was meant to do that.
Have you ever had so much pain that you are simply paralyzed? I mean physically incapable of moving, and completely unaware of everything around you? In so much pain that not even your brain can move? I you have then you might have an idea of what this pain was like. But if you haven't this idea will have you laughing at what you believe to be a huge exaggeration but I will tell you right now, I'm not exaggerating.
Now the pain went on for a really long time, but when it stopped it was sudden and complete. There was no pain at all. The bad part, I still couldn't see, or hear. Movement was sluggish and gave me that pins and needle feeling, like when your foot falls asleep. No pain, but everything was numb, sort of.
I reached out with my hand, it felt like it was crawling with small insects, which made me want to shake it like crazy. Which was, of course, outside of my current range of movement. I groped around quietly trying to find something. And I did. I think it was some king of metal. I grabbed onto it tightly, it was an anchor in the darkness and silence. I'm not sure if it was just really quiet, and really dark, or if I was deaf and blind, but I really hoped it was the former rather than the latter.
The metal shifted until suddenly something picked me up. It felt like arms. So it likely was. Of course because it felt like metal it could have been a machine, but I really don't know.
Whatever was holding me started moving, and I couldn't hear anything. To my dismay I was forced to accept the fact that the latter (that I was deaf and blind) may have been the correct answer.
"Who are you," I whispered quietly. Or at least I think I said it. I might not have. Because I couldn't hear it. I pressed up against whatever was holding me to find more metal. I lifted a faintly numb hand and traced it upwards, trying to figure out what it was that was holding me.
The first thing I noticed was the designs. There were grooves cut in swirling patterns all over the thing. Higher up there was something more dense, but I couldn't figure out what it was. Even higher there were several pieces of metal joined together with leather and chain. But above that was skin.
Then I realized what it was. It was Lan, Lan was carrying me somewhere. If he heard me, he probably responded. If he had, I couldn't hear him. I should say something, or do something to make him understand that I couldn't see or hear.
"Lan? I can't see, and I can't hear, so understand?" I didn't say it very loudly, but I raised my hand to his face, and touched his lips, like I saw in some movie (I can't remember what it was). His lips were moving but I couldn't figure out if he was trying to respond to me, or I he was trying to talk to someone else, I didn't know if there was someone else around to talk to.
A gloved hand touched my arm, the one which was trapped between my side, and Lan's arm. I reached up with my not trapped hand, and felt upwards. I couldn't feel the end of the glove, so it was most likely a scout. I dropped my hand back, and lay back in Lan's arms. Everything was so messed up.
We had stopped moving and there were people touching my arms, and sides, and prodding here and there. I don't know who they were, or what they were doing, but from the cold plastic eel of the hands I would guess they were doctors examining me, trying to figure out what was wrong with me.
I was singing inanely. I bet they were starting to think I had gone crazy, but I liked singing little snippets of song better than trying to figure out what they could be saying about me.
What I noticed the most was that Lan had put me in the arms of the scout with the comforting hand. Then I think he left. The scout had brought me here, and then she left too. Now I was alone, and I wasn't liking it. Hence the inane singing.
The prodding stopped, but I didn't stop singing. The worst part of all this was that I couldn't even hear myself to tell if I was even hitting the pitch correctly. And I was singing a song that sounds horrible if you don't get the pitch right. Oh well I was making even more deaf people in the world.
Now they were pulling at my eyelids, and sticking things in my ears. I pulled away.
"I can't see, and I can't hear Can't you be fine with that?" I think I said it. I hope I did. Because if I didn't the prodding would start again soon.
A hand touched my shoulder. I reach up and felt upwards on the arm. It was a girl (not enough hair on the arm), when I reached the shoulders I felt upwards on the head. Odangos, Usagi.
"Usagi, hello," I smiled a bit and asked, "Can you get me out of here? Just nod or shake your head, I can feel it." Usagi nodded. I smiled and said, "lead the way."
She did lead the way. She held onto my shoulder and pushed me along, pulling to the left or right when she needed me to turn a corner. Before I knew it I could feel wind, a was a very slight breeze. But it was better than the smell of antiseptic.
Someone hugged me all of the sudden. I stiffened at the feel. I really had no warning at all. I reached up and felt from who it was. Short hair, lightly muscled arms and chest, It was Lance. He must have been told about what had happened. What a sweet fake boyfriend. Or maybe at this point it was real.
"Are the girls here? Shake or nod your head," I told him. He nodded.
"Good, Is Corey here?" Another nod, "Can you bring her here or me?" Another nod, then he let go of me.
I stood in my world of silence for a moment before a hand touched my arm.
"Corey? Were you the comforting hand?" I asked reaching up and touching the side of her face. She shook her head. "Who was it?" Corey took my hand and pulled me a bit to the let and forward and put my hand on someone's face. I felt to the hair, and was surprised to find it was very short. It wasn't up or anything. And the person was taller than me. All this means it must have been Haruka. I was surprised, I didn't think he liked me.
"Thank you, Haruka-san," I said quietly.
Then I turned in a brief circle, "Will someone take me home?"
I pair of hand grabbed mine. This person was shorter than me, by about a head. I pulled one hand from the grasp and felt this person's head, it was my little brother. I smiled and let him lead me.
I've been led to and from wherever I need to go by an assortment of my friends. I even got that date with Lance. But what worries me is that I can some times here something. I think it may be voices, or maybe it's something else. And sometimes I can see blurry images. I'm not sure how it works. But I've found that this happens the most often when I'm with Lance, Corey, and Hannah. So I often invite them all to come with me.
I'm not sure how to explain why I want them all to be with me, so I don't. Haruka is also there a lot. I'm not sure why she suddenly likes me, but I'm not going to push her away. Mico seems to be talking into my mind a lot. So I'm not in complete silence anymore.
All in all I think I'm doing okay for someone who has no idea how she lost her eyesight, and hearing. And for someone who lost them suddenly when they were in their teens.
Someone is speaking about you in here. Mico informed me one day when the entire group had gathered in Rei's temple.
What are they saying? Can you play it to me mind-to-mind? I asked curious. They didn't talk about me often, sometimes they would talk to me, as if I could still hear them.
I will replay the scene for you. Mico said quietly before doing exactly that. I could suddenly see the room perfectly, as if I hadn't lost my sight.
Usagi was saying, "You should be nicer to her. She can't see, or hear because she was attacked by that enemy. Mico won't tell us anything. And Mami doesn't know it when we ask her what happened."
"Yes, but I don't think we should be doting on her like this. I don't think it's necessary. Didn't Corey say it sometimes seemed like she as trying to focus on something? Doesn't that mean that she's getting better?" I should have known that it was Rei Usagi was trying to defend me against.
"Leave her alone. She couldn't tell I was Lan when he picked her up. She looked strait up at him and started tracing her hands up his armor, as if she was blind. This is the guy she's in love with. I she couldn't recognize him what luck do we have of her faking it?" Haruka asked a little sadly.
"I know she isn't faking it. She's just like this in my future. I hope we can heal her soon. But it will take her transforming because she's in danger, and her court combining their magic purposely to heal her. That's why they failed the first time. But we can't heal her yet She's still missing the crucial element of the Mistress. She is necessary to the healing. Mistress is a very strong mage. It will take all her magic to heal Mommy, and to save the world in doing so," This was a cute girl. She had stick strait black hair and crystal blue eyes.
"Mommy? Mico?" I said out loud at that point.
Sorry. I failed to mention our newest time traveler. She says she is your daughter.
"but if I'm like this in the future, then how can I be her mom?" I asked Mico quietly.
I think I must show you what they are saying.
"What was that? I thought she was deaf," Chibi-Usa said in shock.
"I told you she was faking us!" Rei cried angrily.
"no, she's not. Do you see the way she's not listening to us? She's not shifting towards the speaker, it's like she's watching TV or something. What is she doing?" Usagi was my defender again.
"Mommy? Is Mico showing you this?" The little girl asked. The entire room went silent and turned to me.
"Yes, Mico is showing me. I discovered that he can show me what's going on if I ask him to. But when no one is talking about me I don't bother. Instead I try to see myself. When I'm with Hannah, Corey, and Lance (all three) I can sometimes see blurry shapes, and I can hear indistinct sounds," I told them still staring off into blackness. My silent world wasn't even disturbed by my voice.
"See, I told you! She needs her court!" The little girl cried in triumph, "Mommy I'm Emma. You don't know me yet."
"Don't bother, she's not focusing like before," Ami said quietly as she pulled out the Mercury computer.
"yes she is!" Emma cried pointing at me. "She looks like she's watching TV. I know that look. I've seen it more times than any of you. In fact she's like that more than half the time. Well when I come from she is. Daddy says he likes that look because it means she's paying attention to us," Emma explained indignantly.
"Who is your daddy?" I asked quietly.
"See I told you she was paying attention to us," Emma was triumphant.
"Emma, who?"
"Oh right! Well he's Lan I guess. You always call him that. And I don't really ever see anyone but you and daddy, so I guess that's his name," Emma said looking a little confused.
"you don't know for certain?"
"No, and I haven't seen him since I got here, so I guess you haven't met daddy yet," Emma looked disappointed at this.
"I have met Lan. Both in my last life and his reincarnation has protected me in this life," I told her quietly, "I'm tired, I'm going to take a nap okay?" I said gently.
I wasn't really going to take a nap. I was going to relive part of my last life, when I could see and hear and touch Lan. When he was always there for me. I missed that.
I've been busy all day. I think I'll go find Elle. She's sure to make me feel better, seeing as no one else is likely to do so right now. Lan could, but he's doing a census of the country. Lan's been protecting me as normal. Has he already forgotten that I fought the Queendom of Six, Ka, and Drakul just as fiercely as he did when we were younger?
"Elle! I don't feel good toady!" I called out and rushed into my little sister as I ran into Elle's library where she spends a lot of her time.
"Poor Rose, do you want to lie down again? Or did you just want me to be nice to you?" Elle asked petting my hair.
"Both," I whined piteously.
"Poor baby," Elle murmured as she led me to one of her couches. This on had an armrest on only one side. So Elle propped me up in it when I decided that I didn't feel like dealing with other people right then.
"Thank you Elle. Little sister why don't you find yourself a nice guy? Guys are better than books, take it from me," I told her with a wicked smile.
"Yes, well there aren't any men who are as strong as me, nor are there any men who are as smart as you Rose. Because you know quite well that you're smarter than me despite the way you keep professing that you hate books," Elle was blushing. I loved it when I made my sweet little sister blush.
"I bet I could find one. Do you want me to? I won't even use any politics when deciding for you," I offered smoothing my dress over my legs.
"Fine, but don't offer for me. Show him to me, then let me decide on my own whether or not I like this guy," Elle said with a sigh. I already knew the perfect guy. He blew me away and left me in a pile of dust with his intelligence, plus he was one of the nation's best swordsmen. I bet Lord Michael would be perfect or my picky little sister. Plus he has large holdings and solid trade with the people of Christanium to the South. Truly the perfect guy for my little sister. Not for me of course, but I want something different in men than Elle. Plus I have Lan.
"Lord Michael," I said in triumph. Elle had met him once or twice. They got along fine.
"Why him?" Elle was suspicious, she knew about Michael's holdings in the South.
"He's way smarter than me, he's the only person other than Lan who can ever make me feel stupid. He's the kingdom's second best swordsman, and he was very courageous in tending his father's lands during the ar. He is a year or so older than you, but still that's not so big a difference, not any more than that between Lan and me," I told her stating most of the reasons I chose him.
"Plus he has a strong trade agreement with Christanium, who have decided they won't talk to you anymore. What did you do to Queen Christa anyway?" Elle asked genuinely curious.
"I told her that my trees were prettier than hers," I muttered and sunk farther into Elle's chair.
"You really should stop doing stu-"
Pain split through my skull cutting me off from my memories. It was as paralyzing as before. But I managed to get out a scream before I lost control of my voice again.
"What's happened now?"
"Why was she screaming?"
"Mami? Mami! Are you al right?"
"Megan! Megan wakeup,"
"Rose, wake up,"
The last voice of my dream was the best. It was Lan. Flickered open eyes to find everything was still blank and empty. I reached out and found a small head with overly thin hair curled against my side Curled around her body was someone in plate armor. I could only be Lan. He rested his head on my chest, while the little girl rested her head against my stomach.
"Is she awake then? Even if she is, let's not wake Lan or Emma yet. I think they were panicked when they heard her scream," It was Usagi's voice. I could hear again! I wonder why I can hear again?
"Rose?" I could barely hear Lan's quietly murmur.
"Lan," I leaned down and kissed his head. I think it was the back of his head.
Lan turned his head towards mine. I couldn't see him, but I felt him turn his head.
"You can hear me again?" He was still speaking quietly. I don't think he wanted to wake Emma.
"Yes, but I can't see," I barely breathed the words. It hurt that I couldn't see him. I wanted to see the clear eyes of my memories. I wanted to see the way the sun shone on his silky hair. The way memories told me everything frustrated me to no end.
"if you can hear, then sight will return as well," Lan touched my cheek gently and brushed away the tear that was making it's way down my face.
"Not without such terrible pain, such horrible pain," I curled my body around his head, doing my best not to bump Emma awake.
I failed.
"Daddy, is Mommy awake?" Emma asked in an excited (though trying to be quiet) voice. She sat up, and I lost sense of her except through the rustle her dress was making.
"She can hear you," Lan said gently as he too sat up, and I lost my 'view' of him too.
"What?! Mommy you can hear me?" Emma sounded excited as I sat up.
"Yes, I can hear you," I smiled grimly. I could only visualize this little girl by brief glimpses with Mico. I had no memory of her to draw on.
Emma practically tackled me to the ground. I Lan hadn't been sitting with his hand partially on my back, then I think I might have fallen over.
I hugged the little girl tight. She couldn't be any older than seven or eight years old. I wasn't even sure she was that old. I think I needed the comfort of Emma as much as Emma needed the comfort she found in my hug.
"So Emma you want to borrow Luna-P now?" Chibi-Usa's voice came from behind me somewhere.
"Yes please!"
"Megan's home!" Brian called out as Lan, Emma, and I walked through the door.
"Is she okay?" My mom asked anxiously as I heard her rushing through hallways to get to the front hallway. Emma's dress rustled as she shifted Luna-P in her arms.
"yeah, she's fine. One of her friends and some little girl brought her home today," Brian said happily.
"Good, good," My mom sounded so relieved. How hard had it been for her these last few weeks?
I heard Luna-P started making a whirring noise at the same time I heard my mom's footsteps hit the tile of the front hallway.
"oh Emma! I didn't know you were coming!" My mom pulled Emma into a hug with much dress rustling and squeaking about how tight the hug was on Emma's part.
"You'll have to stay in Megan's room with her, but I'm sure you'll be fine, what with the fact that she mostly sits like she's comatose lately," I furrowed my brow at my mom's words. We had enough rooms for her to have on those.
"That's fine!" Emma must have escaped my mom's hug because she sounded fine now.
"What with Sean and Lauren both home because of Megan's condition, well we're a little short on space," My eyes widened at these words. I turned and rushed up where I knew the stairs were. I went all the way up to the room I knew was set up for Lauren when she was home. I knew I was right when I heard the country music. Why hadn't Mico told me? Mico was being oddly lapse on what was going on, what else had I missed?
"Lauren!" I cried out flinging the door open. I couldn't see her, but I heard her turn to look at the door. I rushed into the room. I banged my leg on the bed, then on Lauren's suitcase. But I did make it to her desk and grabbed her into a hug.
"Megan, what is it? How did you know I was here?" Lauren's voice sounded so soft compared to normal.
"I'm so happy you're here Lauren, I'm so happy," I'm pretty sure I was sobbing at this point. She had promised to never come here, but here she is! My big sister.
"It's okay, Meg, I'm here,"