lways With You
Chapter 7: Speculations
I stood on the rooftop for a few more minutes. My thoughts wandered to Crystal Tokyo. Would the Earth sill freeze over like we had been told? If it did would we be able to survive and rebuild without the power of Usagi and the ginzoushou? We were never informed of what exactly caused the freeze. And if we survived to bring the Earth into a new era of peace I suppose that would make me queen. It was a strange thought. I had always lived knowing that I would be an advisor and protector of the Queen...of Usagi. This turn of events had never been foretold. We had never imagined what our lives would have been like without her there to guide us.
On one hand the thought was liberating yet at the same time stifling. As Queen I would be able to influence the entire world, help it prosper at Mamoru's side. I think I would be happy but I'm not certain. I've rarely been certain of things since then. So much power and responsibility would be difficult to deal with. I would have to live up to Usagi's memory. Would I be able to be good ruler, a good protector, a good mother? And what of the others, would they protect and aid me as they would have Usagi? Would I want them to? I shook my head trying to make these thoughts go away. I always felt horrible after thinking about the future like that. I'm assuming too much. I'm worrying about things I have no proof of. And worrying about things that haven't even happened yet doesn't do any good at all, at least that's what I keep telling myself.
I sprinted down the fire escape and into a dark alley, detransforming on my way out. I'd head home help Mamoru with dinner and take a nice hot shower. That would make me stop thinking at least for a little while. I walked toward the nearest bus stop and pulled out my cell phone. I dialed Minako and crossed my feet as I sat down on the bench. She picked up quickly.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. I was just calling to let you know how our patrol went tonight."
"Good you had me worried there for a moment. Did you manage to find anything?"
I shook my head. "We couldn't find anything. There was nothing for my computer to pick up, no strange energy signals or anything of the sort. It's possible that the enemy hasn't gotten a foothold in the area yet."
"Hmmm...That's good but worrying at the same time. We'll just have to keep our eyes open and see what happens from here. Let me know if you notice anything out of the ordinary."
I nodded. "Of course. I'll see you in a couple days at the next meeting. Call me or Mamoru if anything comes up. Mhmm. Bye"
I closed my phone and slipped it into my jacket pocket and turned just in time to see Rei sit down next to me. Rei and I used to ride the bus together quite often when we were in high school, back when things were different between us. I crossed my arms as she stared at me.
"You never got the chance to tell me why you needed that fire reading."
I swallowed nervously.
"I heard the end of your conversation with Minako. It seems like we don't have any information to work with, but if that was the case then why did you come to me in the first place?"
I licked my lips, trying to think of what I could say without giving away too much. "Something strange happened at the house today, some sort of disturbance. When I returned home from work I was very clearly alone in the house, Mamoru hadn't returned yet. I kept hearing noises upstairs that were more than just the house settling."
She nodded for me to continue.
"I ran a quick scan of the house on my mini computer only to find I suppose what you could call a cold spot emanating from the master bedroom. It sounded like everything was being destroyed. I burst through the door to find every piece of furniture in the room flying through the air." I waved my hands as Rei's eyes widened.
"As soon as whatever was causing it seemed to notice me the flight patterns became hostile and objects started hurtling themselves in my direction. That continued for a couple of minutes until Mamoru got home and everything stopped." I had left out a few details but nothing that would change the overall meaning of the story.
Rei frowned and brushed her hair back over her shoulder. "Do you feel like this entity was trying specifically to harm you since it stopped once Mamoru returned?"
My shoulders tensed and I turned forward, staring at the sidewalk. "I honestly don't have enough information to say for certain."
Rei nodded and placed a hand on my shoulder. I turned and looked at her questioningly. She squeezed lightly and said, "There was a part of the vision that I didn't share with the others."
My lips pursed in a thin line. Did she know? Was she calling me out since we were alone again?
"Ami, I know things haven't exactly been smooth between us these last few months..."
I nodded and watched as she lowered her head slightly. I could tell this was very hard for her to say.
"But I want you to know that I'm still here for you. I've been spending a lot of time thinking and well...I want to apologize. Can you forgive me?"
I smiled to hide the shocked expression that would have shown at this turn of the conversation. In the back of my mind I wondered what was so bad that she thought she needed to make up with me so suddenly. Stop it! I said, chastising myself. It doesn't have to mean anything that she apologized like this. Maybe she really just felt it was time that we were reconciled. Or maybe not...
I smiled again and pulled her hand down to hold in mine. "Apology accepted." She returned the gesture and we sat there for a moment just staring at each other's hands.
"What was it that you saw?"
"Everything I said in front of the others was the truth. But the vision continued on and it was," she wrapped her arms around herself, "disturbing."
It was my turn to be the consoling one as I laid a trembling hand on her shoulder.
"After each of us was taken by the shadow the rain stopped. The screams turned to moans as slowly, each of us clawed our way out of the ground as corpses. We shambled away toward a bright light where she...Usagi stood waiting for us."
My hand fell to my lap. This was exactly what I hoped she wouldn't say. I closed my eyes as she continued speaking. There were no stopping things now. She already knew and I couldn't take that away from her.
"The light grew brighter as we got nearer until finally each of us was restored to our living selves. She smiled at us, she just stood there, smiling."
I watched as a single tear slid down Rei's cheek. I was having a hard time keeping myself from choking up. I missed her so much sometimes. Rei lifted a hand and wiped the tear away, an embarrassed chuckle escaping her lips.
"Usagi lifted a hand, pointed and said 'One of you...' and that was where it faded."
I shook my head and clutched at my legs. "But that doesn't make any sense. We were attacked by some shadow being and apparently killed, only to be saved and revived by Usagi."
Rei nodded.
"But Usagi's gone...isn't she?"
