Disclaimer : I don't own Sailor Moon etc. etc.
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A Stroll Through Your Dream
By Artemis
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PART THREE
Usagi woke up, feeling drowsy. She glanced over to the clock.
"Ten thirty!? I'm late!!!!!!!" she screamed and jumped out
of bed.
She had to forget about a shower, maybe she could have one at
the hospital. She brushed her hair and munched on an apple.
Usagi threw on some clothes, grabbed her car keys and bag
and ran out of her apartment. On the way out of the lobby,
she ran head on into a person. They both fell to the floor.
Usagi got up and apologised straight away, while she rubbed
the back of her head. She gave the person a hand and realised
that it was Michael.
"Michael? What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Well you're late," he grinned. "But obviously you know that too."
"Am I in deep trouble? Is Ms Thompson going to yell at me?"
Usagi sighed, upset.
"I'll give you a lift," he offered and headed out.
When Usagi arrived, she saw Ami standing by Mamoru's bedside.
He was asleep again.
"Sorry I'm late," she whispered to Ami.
Ami glanced over to Michael, who was a few metres away.
"What?" Usagi frowned.
"What's he doing here with you?" Ami asked, a hint of suspicion.
"He gave me a lift Ami, no big deal."
Ami nodded. "Sorry.. but you know, it's going to be you who's
in trouble if you get involved with any of the staff working
here. Not that he's staff.. but you know.."
"I know Ami!" Usagi sighed. "Anyway, is Mamoru okay?"
"He's fine. He asked for you, then fell asleep again. We don't
know why he falls asleep so often. And he seems a little
confused and disorientated every time he wakes up," Ami whispered.
"He told me he's had really weird dreams."
"Must be from the concussion."
Usagi glanced over to see if Michael was still there, but he
was gone. She looked around and saw him talking to another
patient, obviously a friend of his. Then for the first time,
Usagi noticed that Mamoru was the only astronaut here who hadn't
fully recovered.
"Ami, how come all the others are sitting up and eating and
everything?" she asked.
"You didn't notice?" Ami laughed. "Well the others have steadily
regained their strength. Mamoru.... for some reason hasn't."
Usagi frowned. She wondered if it had anything to do with his
dreams.
"Well, I'll leave you to look after him now," Ami smiled and
handed her a progress report. "I've got to go meet Grace."
"Bye Ami."
Mamoru found himself in his dream again. But he felt different.
He looked at his arms. They were smaller and bandaged loosely.
"What's going on?" he muttered and heard his voice echo.
He sounded like a child. His head hurt again, stabbing pains
behind his eyes. He turned around and found a young boy
looking at him. A young boy with dark blue eyes and glossy
black hair. He reached his hand out to touch the boy, but
he soon found out that the boy was an image. The image rippled
and shattered, then disappeared. His feet stepped on broken
glass. No, it wasn't glass... A mirror? So was he the young
boy? He shook his head. That couldn't be right... But then,
he was in a dream. Anything was possible. He suddenly heard
sobbing. It sounded like a little girl crying. He looked
around frantically, but only saw murky darkness. And she
appeared in front of him and startled him. Mamoru stepped
back into the broken fragments of mirror. They crunched
under his feet, but he felt no pain. It was the same little
girl. The one with blonde pigtails.
"What's the matter?" he asked, unable to recognise his
own voice.
"Your rose.. It died," she cried. "It died.. What do I do?"
"It doesn't matter, everything dies eventually," he whispered
softly.
The girl looked at him with her eyes full of sorrow and fear.
"Even me?" she murmured.
Mamoru was surprised by the question. He didn't know how to
answer. He looked at the little girl, her eyes still curiously
twinkling.
"Yes.." he answered reluctantly. "Even you will die.."
"Not if I live in there," she smiled and pointed to him.
Mamoru looked at her, puzzled by what she meant.
"But if I die, then you will too," he frowned.
The little girl shook her head, her pigtails bouncing.
"No, but you'll live forever in here," she murmured, holding
her hands to her heart.
She closed her eyes and started to hum a lullaby. Mamoru recognised
the tune from somewhere, but he couldn't remember. He felt sleepy
and closed his eyes. The pain in his head eased.
Usagi watched Michael talking to the other astronauts. She didn't
find him especially attractive, but he wasn't unattractive either.
And he had a cute cheesy grin. Michael caught her looking over at
him. Their eyes met and Usagi blushed from embarrassment. He waved
and smiled. She waved back. Usagi looked down and pretended to
read Mamoru's progress report. She kept her head down, but out of
the corner of her eye she could see Michael walking over to her.
Usagi peered over the sheets of paper.
"Hi," she murmured shyly.
"Where you looking at me?" he grinned, that cute grin again.
"Maybe," Usagi smiled.
Michael grabbed a chair and sat down next to her.
"You're friends with Mamoru, aren't you?" she asked him, looking
away from him.
"Yeah, I'm friends with him," he nodded. "I met him at NASA
just before he got really famous with the mission and all."
Usagi nodded. "When he woke up before, he asked if you were
going to come and visit him..."
Michael's attention diverted from Usagi to Mamoru. There was
a comfortable silence as both of them watched Mamoru, sleeping
peacefully.
"Would you mind if we had coffee some time?" she heard Michael
whisper, breaking the silence.
Usagi turned to him, surprised and speechless. She didn't really
know what to say.
"I don't want to get involved with anyone I'm working with,"
she told him honestly. "I'm sorry."
Michael nodded. "I understand."
He got up and tucked the chair away. "I have to go see Grace.
Tell Mamoru I'll be back later to visit."
Usagi nodded and smiled. Michael looked at Usagi, then turned
and hurried away. She felt a little guilty for being too honest.
Mamoru woke up from his dream and saw Usagi sitting there, staring
out the window.
"What's wrong?" he asked, startling her. "Sorry.."
Usagi smiled. "No, it's okay. Nothing's wrong. How are you feeling?"
"I'm feeling okay I think.." he mumbled.
Usagi turned her chair around so she faced him. Mamoru could smell
that sweet scent of roses again. Was it her?
"Oh, I keep forgetting to ask," Mamoru murmured. "How are the others
doing?"
"They're fine. Most of them are almost ready to leave this hospital
and be flown over to base, wherever that is," Usagi told him.
Mamoru nodded. He felt a little better than before.
"Where's Michael?" he asked her.
At the mention of his name, Usagi's eyes looked troubled. Mamoru
wondered why.
"He's... coming back later," she smiled gently.
Mamoru tried to sit up and he struggled. Usagi immediately got up
and helped him. Usagi fixed up his blanket and pillows. Mamoru could
smell roses. He shook his head. He looked at Usagi and felt something,
but he wasn't sure what. His head hurt when he tried to remember.
"Thanks," he smiled.
Usagi smiled back.
"So what's it like in space?" she asked him.
"Space..." Mamoru whispered, remembering that blissful feeling.
Usagi wondered if she should have asked.
"It's like.. empty.. and cold... But you know you're not alone because
you can see all the stars out there," Mamoru murmured, not really
looking at Usagi.
"It must really be beautiful..."
"It is. And the Earth.. It's the most beautiful thing I've seen..."
There was a silence as Mamoru sighed deeply. He wished he was there now.
Usagi glanced at her watch. It was one.
"I'll go ask Dr Mizuno if you're allowed to have solid food now,"
she told him and got up. "I'll be back soon."
He nodded and watched Usagi leave. She reminded him of somebody,
but he couldn't remember who.
Usagi found Ami's office. She knocked on the door and found Grace
there as well.
"Usagi, what is it?" Ami asked, getting up.
"Is Mr Chiba allowed to eat solid food?" she asked Ami, feeling
uncomfortable with the iron gaze from Grace.
"He should be. Wait a second, I'll just get the folder," she told
Usagi and went through some drawers.
"Thank you Dr Mizuno, I'll see myself out," Grace spoke up and
then turned.
She walked past Usagi and left. Usagi sighed.
"She makes me so nervous!" Usagi whispered to Ami.
"Me too," Ami smiled.
Ami got out a folder and flipped through the sheets.
"Oh, you might want to read this. It's his personal history."
Usagi took some sheets from Ami and browsed through. The first
thing Usagi noticed was the fact that his parents were deceased.
And he had no other family.
"Do you know how his parents died?" she asked Ami.
"They died when he was only a little boy. In a car accident."
"Really? The poor guy.." Usagi murmured.
"And apparently, he lost his memory when he was in hospital.
So basically, he's been living his life being told that he is
Mamoru Chiba, but not actually knowing who he is... Really sad."
"But I mean he's a famous astronaut now. He must have overcome
that."
"Yeah... I guess so. But still, do you think you could get over it?
You don't have anyone to ask if you really are who you're told you
are. I wouldn't be surprised if he had an identity crisis."
Usagi didn't feel like reading any more about Mamoru. She felt it
wasn't right. He probably didn't want anyone knowing about it anyway.
After leaving Ami's office, Usagi dropped by the food supply
cupboard and filled a tray with what he was allowed to eat. Usagi felt
a little depressed, first because of Michael and secondly because of
what she read about Mamoru. She carried the tray back to the room.
Usagi walked in the door and stopped when she saw Michael talking
with Mamoru. She wanted to turn around and hide until Michael had gone,
but she knew she couldn't do that. Usagi walked over to Mamoru's bed
and Michael looked up and saw her.
"Hi," she smiled.
"Hi..."
Then she turned to Mamoru and placed the tray of food on his lap.
"Ami.. I mean, Dr Mizuno, said you could eat solid food now," she smiled.
"Great, I'm starving," Mamoru smiled.
"Hey, I'll see you later Mamoru," Michael said as he got up.
Mamoru nodded. Usagi watched Michael leave. She sighed and sat down.
------------------------------------------------------------
END OF PART THREE
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------------------------------------------------------------
A Stroll Through Your Dream
By Artemis
------------------------------------------------------------
PART THREE
Usagi woke up, feeling drowsy. She glanced over to the clock.
"Ten thirty!? I'm late!!!!!!!" she screamed and jumped out
of bed.
She had to forget about a shower, maybe she could have one at
the hospital. She brushed her hair and munched on an apple.
Usagi threw on some clothes, grabbed her car keys and bag
and ran out of her apartment. On the way out of the lobby,
she ran head on into a person. They both fell to the floor.
Usagi got up and apologised straight away, while she rubbed
the back of her head. She gave the person a hand and realised
that it was Michael.
"Michael? What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Well you're late," he grinned. "But obviously you know that too."
"Am I in deep trouble? Is Ms Thompson going to yell at me?"
Usagi sighed, upset.
"I'll give you a lift," he offered and headed out.
When Usagi arrived, she saw Ami standing by Mamoru's bedside.
He was asleep again.
"Sorry I'm late," she whispered to Ami.
Ami glanced over to Michael, who was a few metres away.
"What?" Usagi frowned.
"What's he doing here with you?" Ami asked, a hint of suspicion.
"He gave me a lift Ami, no big deal."
Ami nodded. "Sorry.. but you know, it's going to be you who's
in trouble if you get involved with any of the staff working
here. Not that he's staff.. but you know.."
"I know Ami!" Usagi sighed. "Anyway, is Mamoru okay?"
"He's fine. He asked for you, then fell asleep again. We don't
know why he falls asleep so often. And he seems a little
confused and disorientated every time he wakes up," Ami whispered.
"He told me he's had really weird dreams."
"Must be from the concussion."
Usagi glanced over to see if Michael was still there, but he
was gone. She looked around and saw him talking to another
patient, obviously a friend of his. Then for the first time,
Usagi noticed that Mamoru was the only astronaut here who hadn't
fully recovered.
"Ami, how come all the others are sitting up and eating and
everything?" she asked.
"You didn't notice?" Ami laughed. "Well the others have steadily
regained their strength. Mamoru.... for some reason hasn't."
Usagi frowned. She wondered if it had anything to do with his
dreams.
"Well, I'll leave you to look after him now," Ami smiled and
handed her a progress report. "I've got to go meet Grace."
"Bye Ami."
Mamoru found himself in his dream again. But he felt different.
He looked at his arms. They were smaller and bandaged loosely.
"What's going on?" he muttered and heard his voice echo.
He sounded like a child. His head hurt again, stabbing pains
behind his eyes. He turned around and found a young boy
looking at him. A young boy with dark blue eyes and glossy
black hair. He reached his hand out to touch the boy, but
he soon found out that the boy was an image. The image rippled
and shattered, then disappeared. His feet stepped on broken
glass. No, it wasn't glass... A mirror? So was he the young
boy? He shook his head. That couldn't be right... But then,
he was in a dream. Anything was possible. He suddenly heard
sobbing. It sounded like a little girl crying. He looked
around frantically, but only saw murky darkness. And she
appeared in front of him and startled him. Mamoru stepped
back into the broken fragments of mirror. They crunched
under his feet, but he felt no pain. It was the same little
girl. The one with blonde pigtails.
"What's the matter?" he asked, unable to recognise his
own voice.
"Your rose.. It died," she cried. "It died.. What do I do?"
"It doesn't matter, everything dies eventually," he whispered
softly.
The girl looked at him with her eyes full of sorrow and fear.
"Even me?" she murmured.
Mamoru was surprised by the question. He didn't know how to
answer. He looked at the little girl, her eyes still curiously
twinkling.
"Yes.." he answered reluctantly. "Even you will die.."
"Not if I live in there," she smiled and pointed to him.
Mamoru looked at her, puzzled by what she meant.
"But if I die, then you will too," he frowned.
The little girl shook her head, her pigtails bouncing.
"No, but you'll live forever in here," she murmured, holding
her hands to her heart.
She closed her eyes and started to hum a lullaby. Mamoru recognised
the tune from somewhere, but he couldn't remember. He felt sleepy
and closed his eyes. The pain in his head eased.
Usagi watched Michael talking to the other astronauts. She didn't
find him especially attractive, but he wasn't unattractive either.
And he had a cute cheesy grin. Michael caught her looking over at
him. Their eyes met and Usagi blushed from embarrassment. He waved
and smiled. She waved back. Usagi looked down and pretended to
read Mamoru's progress report. She kept her head down, but out of
the corner of her eye she could see Michael walking over to her.
Usagi peered over the sheets of paper.
"Hi," she murmured shyly.
"Where you looking at me?" he grinned, that cute grin again.
"Maybe," Usagi smiled.
Michael grabbed a chair and sat down next to her.
"You're friends with Mamoru, aren't you?" she asked him, looking
away from him.
"Yeah, I'm friends with him," he nodded. "I met him at NASA
just before he got really famous with the mission and all."
Usagi nodded. "When he woke up before, he asked if you were
going to come and visit him..."
Michael's attention diverted from Usagi to Mamoru. There was
a comfortable silence as both of them watched Mamoru, sleeping
peacefully.
"Would you mind if we had coffee some time?" she heard Michael
whisper, breaking the silence.
Usagi turned to him, surprised and speechless. She didn't really
know what to say.
"I don't want to get involved with anyone I'm working with,"
she told him honestly. "I'm sorry."
Michael nodded. "I understand."
He got up and tucked the chair away. "I have to go see Grace.
Tell Mamoru I'll be back later to visit."
Usagi nodded and smiled. Michael looked at Usagi, then turned
and hurried away. She felt a little guilty for being too honest.
Mamoru woke up from his dream and saw Usagi sitting there, staring
out the window.
"What's wrong?" he asked, startling her. "Sorry.."
Usagi smiled. "No, it's okay. Nothing's wrong. How are you feeling?"
"I'm feeling okay I think.." he mumbled.
Usagi turned her chair around so she faced him. Mamoru could smell
that sweet scent of roses again. Was it her?
"Oh, I keep forgetting to ask," Mamoru murmured. "How are the others
doing?"
"They're fine. Most of them are almost ready to leave this hospital
and be flown over to base, wherever that is," Usagi told him.
Mamoru nodded. He felt a little better than before.
"Where's Michael?" he asked her.
At the mention of his name, Usagi's eyes looked troubled. Mamoru
wondered why.
"He's... coming back later," she smiled gently.
Mamoru tried to sit up and he struggled. Usagi immediately got up
and helped him. Usagi fixed up his blanket and pillows. Mamoru could
smell roses. He shook his head. He looked at Usagi and felt something,
but he wasn't sure what. His head hurt when he tried to remember.
"Thanks," he smiled.
Usagi smiled back.
"So what's it like in space?" she asked him.
"Space..." Mamoru whispered, remembering that blissful feeling.
Usagi wondered if she should have asked.
"It's like.. empty.. and cold... But you know you're not alone because
you can see all the stars out there," Mamoru murmured, not really
looking at Usagi.
"It must really be beautiful..."
"It is. And the Earth.. It's the most beautiful thing I've seen..."
There was a silence as Mamoru sighed deeply. He wished he was there now.
Usagi glanced at her watch. It was one.
"I'll go ask Dr Mizuno if you're allowed to have solid food now,"
she told him and got up. "I'll be back soon."
He nodded and watched Usagi leave. She reminded him of somebody,
but he couldn't remember who.
Usagi found Ami's office. She knocked on the door and found Grace
there as well.
"Usagi, what is it?" Ami asked, getting up.
"Is Mr Chiba allowed to eat solid food?" she asked Ami, feeling
uncomfortable with the iron gaze from Grace.
"He should be. Wait a second, I'll just get the folder," she told
Usagi and went through some drawers.
"Thank you Dr Mizuno, I'll see myself out," Grace spoke up and
then turned.
She walked past Usagi and left. Usagi sighed.
"She makes me so nervous!" Usagi whispered to Ami.
"Me too," Ami smiled.
Ami got out a folder and flipped through the sheets.
"Oh, you might want to read this. It's his personal history."
Usagi took some sheets from Ami and browsed through. The first
thing Usagi noticed was the fact that his parents were deceased.
And he had no other family.
"Do you know how his parents died?" she asked Ami.
"They died when he was only a little boy. In a car accident."
"Really? The poor guy.." Usagi murmured.
"And apparently, he lost his memory when he was in hospital.
So basically, he's been living his life being told that he is
Mamoru Chiba, but not actually knowing who he is... Really sad."
"But I mean he's a famous astronaut now. He must have overcome
that."
"Yeah... I guess so. But still, do you think you could get over it?
You don't have anyone to ask if you really are who you're told you
are. I wouldn't be surprised if he had an identity crisis."
Usagi didn't feel like reading any more about Mamoru. She felt it
wasn't right. He probably didn't want anyone knowing about it anyway.
After leaving Ami's office, Usagi dropped by the food supply
cupboard and filled a tray with what he was allowed to eat. Usagi felt
a little depressed, first because of Michael and secondly because of
what she read about Mamoru. She carried the tray back to the room.
Usagi walked in the door and stopped when she saw Michael talking
with Mamoru. She wanted to turn around and hide until Michael had gone,
but she knew she couldn't do that. Usagi walked over to Mamoru's bed
and Michael looked up and saw her.
"Hi," she smiled.
"Hi..."
Then she turned to Mamoru and placed the tray of food on his lap.
"Ami.. I mean, Dr Mizuno, said you could eat solid food now," she smiled.
"Great, I'm starving," Mamoru smiled.
"Hey, I'll see you later Mamoru," Michael said as he got up.
Mamoru nodded. Usagi watched Michael leave. She sighed and sat down.
------------------------------------------------------------
END OF PART THREE
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