The Tears of the Forgotten

By:Danni Lynn

Chapter 11: Redemption

~+!Serena's Pov!+~

I searched my memories for an recognition that I didn't hurt Raye, but every time I try to remember there is a giant gaping hole in the way. Mina shoved me roughly through the hospital door that I stumbled abit unbalanced but quickly got my footing. Amy followed behind with a cold sneer on her face that I knew was directed to me. Raye had been Amy's closest friend out of the group. They had once accepted me but when we really started to get to know each other they began to hate me. Risa had been no help. But of course none of them seemed to realize the truth of my actions and blood that I have or accused of have spilled. Not even I have come to terms with the absolute truth. Only Risa is the one that knows all of this but she's so damn stubborn that I might as well be punching a brick wall with my bare fist.

I walked up to the nurse's station and leaned abit on the counter. The nurse glanced up at me wearily.

"Yes? What can I do for you?"

The nurse greeted me. Mina shoved me aside.

"We're here to see a friend. Her name is Lita-"

Mina was unable to finish before the short nurse cut her off.

"So your friends with that girl Lita? Good. She needs a friend at this moment."

The nurse ended as she began to guide us deep into the hospital. Mina exchanged glances with Amy before turning towards the nurse.

"You know Lita?"

Mina asked her. She nodded with brown curls bobbing in the air.

"She's my patient."

The nurse replied with an edge of glee in her voice. Mina fell silent as the nurse guided us up a long winding case of stairs. I trailed behind with guilt. What have you gotten me into Risa? I wailed mentally. No answer came. Mina quickened in her pace so she could fall inline with the pace of the nurse.

"So what's your name if I may ask?"

Mina tried to make small talk to avert the uncomfortable silence. I went up to the other side of the nurse so I could ignore Amy easier as she glared daggers at me each one having 'I hope you die and burn in hell' engraved in each blade.

"Karin Mogami. Mrs. Mogami to you."

The nurse, Karin, replied. Mina nodded and opened her mouth to speak again but was brought to a stop when Mrs. Mogami led us into a small room. Mina gasped as the sight of Lita came crashing down on us. She was covered in nothing but blood and sat on the edge of the bed in tears. Mina and Amy ran to comfort her but all I could do was stand there with my mouth gaping open like an idiot. The nurse sighed and faintly smiled as she turned to me.

"I hope you'll be a better comfort for her than I was. I happen to be no good at it and make matters worse. She is all yours."

Karin told me and turned to sulk away. I grabbed her by the arm and spun her around.

"I can't be here. I can't do this. I am the one who makes matters worse. You have to understand."

I pleaded for no reason as I tried to fight back the agony of seeing Lita like this. She was the strong one. Not me. Karin shook her head and pried my hand off her arm.

"I don't understand. But if you'll be kind enough to let me go I have work to do."

Mrs. Mogami apologized and fled down the hall without looking back. I turn back to Lita as I shut the door behind me and leaned against. Waiting for the inevitable. I watched and listened as Mina and Amy muttered words of comfort and helped dried her tears. Then Mina's head shot up and glared at me.

"We need to know Lita. Did Serena hurt Raye?"

Mina silkily questioned the disgruntled friend. Lita threw her head up and looked up at me for the first time as if she didn't know I was here. Then she narrowed her eyes and she clenched her fists and her jaw tightened to the point it would snap. She got up wildly and pointed at me.

"You! You are the one that caused all this. You have hurt everyone in the entire squad. You have hurt the Outers and all of us, the Inners. You are not the princess. You never were. Our princess would not be some heartless, cruel, stupid, arrogant fool who hurts anyone in her way! You should just die and do us that one pleasure so we won't have to put up with you every frickin' day!"

Lita hollered. Luckily the hospital walls are thick enough that loud noises don't get through. I sighed and let my feet take all my weight. I was about to snap something back at her but the conversation I had with Raye about Risa came flooding into my mind. I took a slow breath and tried to appear calm.

"Lita, do you think I don't know this? Is isn't me who are doing these things its-"

I started to whine when Lita's face was readable enough that she would not listen to my pleas. But Mina rudely cut in.

"There you go again, Serena. Blaming someone else for the pain you have caused. I cannot believe we ever trusted you. First, we try to be nice then we hate you. Then after that we tried to be reasonable enough to understand what your trying to say but then you pull this crap. So frankly, I don't know what to say but whatever excuse you want to say we won't listen. I brought you here to apologize. Now you will do just that to Lita, Darien, and Raye. End of discussion."

Mina threatened. I had, had enough of everything. I was fed up with the sailor scouts. I was fed up with Risa using my body. I was fed up with Darien and my parents. I was fed up with the death and pain. I was fed up with every terrible thing that had happened to me in my life. So what did I do? I snapped of course like any sane person would under my circumstances.

"You know what Mina?"

I snarled as I grabbed a chair and put it under the doorknob to jam the entranced. I whipped around and glared at Mina with hate filled eyes.

"I am fed up this crap. You say you don't know me when it is I, who doesn't know you. And you will sit here and listen to what I have to say. It is not me who has been pulling this crap its Risa. She is the Devil's daughter that he happened to stick in my body. And the sad part is that I have saved all your lives that Risa had ruined. I spent up the rest of my life force to save your miserable behinds. Now Risa is my life support. And if I let myself die she will get the body and kill everyone of you. Do you not think that I like being put in this position. It was bad enough to have my parents treat me like they do! But now I have to put with you guys, Risa, the negaverse, and my crumbling life. Shut the hell up and stop complaining to me. If you hate me that much then kill me yourself! Like I would really put a fight up. I might not but Risa will."

I stopped cursing and let the words sink in. Lita was no longer enraged but confused. Amy's face was unreadable. Mina was clearly shocked and pissed off. I heard clapping in my mind. Well done Serena. I couldn't have said better myself but knowing me I would just kill them and then end of problem! Haha. Looks like my demonic power has had quite an influence over you. Risa joked. I ignored her and waited for a reply from the scouts. Then Amy got up and chucked her bottle of water at me. It smacked me in the face as the water splashed onto my shirt and face. I didn't say a thing as she screamed at me.

"Shut up! Stop it all of you. Raye is hurt and she needs us. I don't care what you decide to do Serena but you better apologize or you will get hurt. I can promise you that."

Amy yelled loud enough that we were all silenced. I nodded in agreement after a few seconds had passed.

"Well, if you want to see Raye. Its better if we ask now so we don't wound up killing each other in a few seconds."

I compromised. The girls agreed and we shuffled out of the room I barricaded us in. I stayed silent as Amy walked up to the a nurse and asked for directions to the nearest nurses' station. Mina and I held up Lita so she wouldn't be in pain as she walked. I could tell Amy was still mad but Mina and Lita seemed to have calmed down enough for me to speak casually with them. But I couldn't since Raye was the biggest topic of all and there was no avoiding it. I stopped walking which made Mina to stop walking also. She adjusted Lita's arm around her shoulders before she looked up at me.

"What is it now, Serena? We'll get lost if you make us wait."

Mina sighed as she nudged Lita to start walking but I didn't budge.

"Mina I have to speak to you about Raye."

I demanded refusing to be removed. Mina dramatically growled.

"Can't it wait?"

Mina whined as she grew inpatient.

"No, but I'll tell you on the way."

I decided as I began to slowly trudge with Lita behind Amy. Lita spoke before Mina could even open her mouth.

"Well, then go on. I have had enough yelling and waiting so just tell us."

Lita groaned in pain as I stumbled a bit over my own feet. Mina nodded.

"Alright. Lita when you said you saw me where was I?"

I challenged her. It took a moment for her to answer.

"Um. Let's see...oh yeah! You were held by the collar by Barle. You were covered in your own blood I think. I hope so anyway. You were pissed off. At first she was kicking your ass then you wound ripping her arms off then decapitated her by your own two hands."

Lita finished. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I didn't remember doing that did I? I shook my head trying to clear it. Mina had the look 'as if' on her face.

" Are you sure? I don't remember doing that. I think all that blood loss made you confused."

I denied her memories. Mina nodded in agreement to my comment.

"For once, I think Serena is right."

Mina replied. Lita frowned.

"Well we won't know till we talk to Raye."

Lita suggested looking hopeful. I stayed silent unable to say anymore. As Amy got directions she led us to a small room next to the ER. As we piled into the tiny room we stood among the bed where Raye lied. Darien was in a chair in a corner. Raye was propped up on the bed with tears coming out of her eyes. Her eyes were no longer purple but pale white.

"Raye. How do you feel?"

Lita asked as she lied a hand on Raye's shoulder. Raye didn't bother to glance up.

"Dark. Lita, I can't see. What do you want me to say? That its OK that I'm permanently blind and its all Serena's fault!"

Raye cried out loud enough that Darien woke up and bolted to Raye's side.

"Raye, is everything alright?"

Darien wondered with worry in his voice. Raye nodded 'yes'. I cringed as Raye's sightless eyes fell in my direction.

"Lita who's here?"

Raye wiped away her tears.

"Mina, Amy, and...Serena."

Lita paused when she called my name. Raye's head bolted up and she wildly looked around the room. Darien narrowed his eyes at me that were full of hate. I flinched a little as all eyes shift to me. I fumbled around for words to say but there seemed to be none. Still I cleared my throat and tried to appear calm.

"Raye, I'm sorry. And to everyone in this very room I know that is a lame excuse to what you guys think I have done, but I am truly sorry."
I finished speaking. Raye remained silent and Darien opened his mouth to speak.

"Sorry? And what you guys think I have done? What kind of crap is that? We all know that you did this! Stop blaming us for what you did, Serena!"

Darien lunged for me and tackled me to the floor. I braced myself for the pain to come but when I opened my eyes to look. Darien was being dragged off me by Mina and Amy. I quickly got up and bowed.

"I am sorry."

And with that I left the hospital. And was going to be leaving everything. Even Japan if I could. As I fled down the road away from the hospital it began to rain with thunder and lightening. The roads were deserted and the rain pelted down hard on me with pebble-sized hail. I wrapped my arms over my head to avoid damage on my head. I narrowed my eyes down to slits just to see where I was going.

Suddenly without warning, I could no longer breath and was restraint right where I stood. Slender arms wound around my body and restricted me from movement like a snake does to a prey. I felt soft lips press close to my ear as the hair on the back of my neck stood up like as if were screaming at the top of their tiny lungs. Warning me to get away, before...to late. Something was shoved right between my lungs and then I couldn't even gasp for clean air as liquid filled my lungs like as if I was drowning. Drowning in my own blood. Then the pain came. It hurt worse than the torture I had to endure when my parents injured me. It hurt worse than death. And slowly. Ever so slowly my vision was filled with creeping darkness. Just before the darkness completely overtook me a voice that wasn't Risa's whispered in my ear.

"You will not die, my dear bunny, not yet. Much more is in store."

Then I screamed.

~+!Lita's Pov!+~

I sat stunned in silence as Serena haste hurried out of the room after a perfect bow. I had caught a glimmer of something dark in the depths of her eyes. It seemed otherworldly, wrong, dark just dark. I shook my head in confusion as I frowned with despair. Serena wasn't always like this. She was much happier when I first met her but as the months droned on since we met something changed. I didn't understand why, the dark spark I saw in her eyes I've seen before, but where? My shoulder was stiff and dull pain raked through the tension in my body that seems to have gone into some kind of rigor mortise shock. I stood up from the bed where Raye was sitting on. Something wasn't right. No matter what she did, I could forgive her eventually but first, I needed to know what was causing her to act this way so I might understand. I shuffled to the door and swept a glance over my shoulder at the remaining inner scouts. They spoke not a word as I snapped open the door and followed suit after the always-running-slash-crying blonde.

She glided down the steps as if she were floating and I had to run (meaning trip repeatedly) after her. I did not dare to call her name, if I did for sure she would bolt so I swiftly shadowed after her. As I stepped out of the hospital I could barely keep up with her. Hail and rain lashed out at me like a whip as thunder and lightening claimed seize of the sky. A fierce wind blew and rustled my clothes violently, daring me to make a mistake so it could blow me away. I struggled helplessly after what ever I could make out of Serena. Without warning she was gone. I swung my head back and forth trying to see her figure but nothing was able to be made out. I gave up instantly there was no use trying to find someone who was as fast a Serena and through a horrid storm. I trudged back to Raye's hospital room, while leaving a trail of water behind my sopping clothes. As I stepped back into Raye's room, I plopped down in a visitor chair next to the bed and shook my drenched hair dry. I yawned and leaned back in my chair to stretch my arms. I was exhausted, running certainty wasn't my fatigue right now. Goes to show how much my body can endure.

I pushed my bangs from my eyes and peered up at Darien. I just realized nobody had said a word when I left and came back.

"What's got you guys so shell-shocked? You look like somebody stabbed your best friend and left you to bleed to death."

I grumbled as I tied my nappy hair back into a floppy ponytail.

"We should have stopped her. God I can be such a bitch, sometimes. Serena, (not matter how much she is annoying) is right when it comes to me being short-tempered."

Raye muttered behind me on the bed. I tried not to crack a smile but just couldn't help it.

"So now you notice?"

I teased. Raye was about to speak up in her defense but Amy's cold voice broke in.

"You have a right to be pissed Raye. My god she made you go blind. What is there not to be mad about?"

Amy snapped at us. Startled by her sudden anger Raye and I couldn't come up with a reply. Mina beat us to it.

"I don't know Amy. Maybe we've wrong about Serena for a long time. If you hadn't come to see, but we have been quick to snap at her with every chance we've got. This isn't us. Usually we were never this cold-hardhearted. Talk about some serous bipolar mood swings."

Mina shook her head at us in disappointment. But as I thought over what she had said, she did have a point. Amy looked hurt but I could see understanding flash through her eyes but was gone in the next instant and Amy was back to being cold. What was becoming of us? I couldn't understand.

"Before we get all guilty about treating Serena like shit, have any of you talked to the outer scouts? I heard Serena was talking to them from Setsuna. She told us she was very unhappy the way we're treating Serena."

Raye demanded making us stop having a guilty conscious. We all shook our heads. I remember talking to Setsuna and Hotaru but it hadn't been about Serena. So I didn't say anything.

"Why do you ask?"

Amy wondered as she spoke our thoughts aloud. Raye went silent for a second.

"Because they might know where she is. So we can get this damn mess sorted out."

Raye answered with a reasonable reply. We nodded in a agreement, but a thought struck me and I made a big, dramatic sigh to get everybody's attention. They all stared at me with confusion in their eyes.

"Well, we can't do anything if we can't find her. Oh, and Amy stop being a jerk. My god, your so cold. Sheesh, lighten up a little will ya? What are you so mad about anyway?"

I asked Amy, waiting patiently for her to reply. She avoided anyone's eyes and cast her head down. Her voice quivered with emotion, which one? I couldn't tell. But as soon as she spoke, I knew right away, which one.

"She saved me. She saved Mina and me, but we couldn't help her. That little boy died and it hurt her more than the wounds she had. I'm mad at her for her being herself. Most of all, I'm mad at myself for not being able to help. No matter the anger or resentment we all feel towards her, she is our princess. We wonder why she's mean sometimes, well all you have to do is look at us. We're not exactly, nice or friendly to her all the time. She puts up with us twenty-four seven and we treat her like crap. She lives on her own with a job. While we all still love with our families except Lita."

Amy explained. Shame was written all over her face as she stared at each one of us in the eye. When she came to face me, I nodded for her to continue but she shook her head as if she had no more to say. As the silence in the room began to get awkward. I remembered something and I looked up and smiled right at Raye.

"Raye. Your only temporary blind at the moment."

I told her. Raye shook her head confused and frowned.

"No, Lita. I'm blind permanently. Didn't the doctors tell you?"

Raye's voice became stoney and monotone. Darien gave me an icy cold look that said shut up all over it. Amy caught on to what she was saying because she gave me a smile and motioned me to continue.

"Raye do you remember when Amy and Mina were dying back in the Negaverse and how Serena healed them. She can heal you of your blindness."

I finished quickly. Already excited and relieved of good news for once. Raye jumped up from the hospital bed and screamed at the top of her lungs,

"Miracles do happen!"

Then she sat on the bed and panted for air. I chuckled at her excitement. Everyone smiled and laughed. Because we all knew, no matter what, even if we hated her, Serena would always help us. We would find her, get her to heal Raye and everything would go back to being normal. We would all scold Serena but would always laugh at the end of each day as we departed for our own homes and recite the list we planned to do the next day even though we would never get around to starting or finishing it.

Serena made things lovable in life, even if those around her didn't see that. As the storm raged on around us outside, we sat comfortably in Raye's room smiling, thinking about the future we expected to come with the good days along with it. Serena made things bearable. No matter our pride (or our ego) we all secretly depended on Serena. She made the best of us come out even though it wasn't all the time. She was the glue that held us all together by a single thread. But as we all day dreamed of the brightness and joy, little did we know things were going to go so very, very wrong with Serena. She made things bearable for us because she kept the truth from us. And the truth can hurt. It can hurt so very bad.

As we sat around chatting about things that we expected to come, Serena was alone in the dark somewhere injured and likely to die. Serena was paying back the hell she didn't know she caused for was its Risa's undoing?

For one simple reason, Life simply did not like Serena.

OK. This has taken me forever to write and I apologize for the delay in updating. I'm writing other stories and this story in particular has been a bit hectic (if you haven't already noticed yet). I'm trying to clear up the issues with the strange mood swings and out of character acts. I would like to make one thing clear. No mean comments. You may point out grammar and spelling issues. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Well, until next time.

Hopefully your favorite auteur,

Danni a.k.a. falling into the darkness ^.- teehee!