I Miss You
Part 4
Disclaimer in Part 1
by: Usa and Hoho
*********
Rei practically had to drag the depressed Usagi down the hall to Makoto's door, then knocked loudly three times, the signal that Usagi was with her. Rei hoped with all her heart that she would at least show that she appreciated the kind thought of a party, and not mope through the whole thing.
**
Makoto ran to the door. "It's them! Ami-chan, Minako-chan, get ready!" she whispered. The other two girls readied themselves for the big moment, Makoto had Ami turn off the light, and she opened the door. "Why, Rei-chan, Usagi-chan! How nice to see you! Why don't you come inside?" She said, her face completely innocent.
Usagi knew something was going on, but didn't know what. Again, the thought of having fun was not on her list of priorities. She followed Rei into the apartment.
"SURPRISE!!" came the yell, the hiding girls jumped out of nowhere, taking Usagi completely by surprise... or at least, they hoped would.
Usagi jumped in shock. "What's this for?"
Makoto grinned. "We just thought... maybe you needed a little cheering up and a rest from worrying, so we planned a party for the five of us. Nothing big, don't worry, we're just here to relax and spend some time with each other."
"Arigatou..." she replied, having a seat.
Rei tried to squeeze a smile out of her. "Come on, baka Usagi, Mako-chan prepared a big feast for us!" She said, looking at her friend intently. "Shouldn't we help her get rid of it before it goes to waste?"
"Hai, Usagi-chan," Minako exclaimed. "Lets eat!"
Usagi didn't think she could keep anything Makoto put in front her down. Her stomach had been doing twists and turns all day long...
"Well, if you aren't going to eat this, I suppose Mako-chan won't mind if I just-" Minako started, reaching a hand towards a sandwich. Makoto shoved her hand away and shook her head, her eyes telling Rei that Usagi should start. Minako gave Makoto a look, puppy dog eyes that told her she was hungry, but the taller girl wasn't fazed a bit.
Usagi picked up the sandwich and bit into it. She still looked depressed, but she managed a small smile for Makoto. "It's good."
Makoto grinned happily and nodded at Minako, a sign that it was okay for her to start too, but the blonde girl shook her head slightly and sighed. She pointed in the direction of Usagi, an odd look on her face. Obviously, Minako was too hurt by Usagi's depression to start right away, but she picked up a snack of her own and sat next to her friend in an attempt to cheer her up.
Ami eyed Usagi warily. This had to stop. Either Mamoru had to wake up from the coma he was in or Usagi had to stop dwelling on the fact that he would never wake up. She needed to have hope that he would.
Usagi finished the sandwich five minutes later. She suddenly felt really sick. With a cry, she got up and ran to the bathroom.
"Usagi!" Rei yelled and ran after her. When she go to the bathroom, she found herself face-to-face with a closed - and locked - door.
The other girls followed. "Usagi-chan, daijobu?" Ami asked. There was no reply.
Makoto knocked a few times with no answer, and finally called, "Usagi-chan, come out of there! It is my bathroom, after all!"
"Shh..." Minako said. She looked at the others. Usagi was being sick.
**
Usagi ran into the bathroom and shut the door, locking it. She looked at her reflection in the mirror. *Who is that? I hardly recognize her anymore,* she thought to herself, ignoring her friends. Gone was the bright, happy teenager. All that was left was a sad shell of a human being. She knew she had to snap out of it. Mamoru needed her to have hope. Suddenly, Usagi felt the sandwich coming back up and leaned over the toilet.
When Usagi had finished, she stood up. Looking in the mirror again, she noticed she was more pale than earlier. Usagi splashed some cold water on face and opened the door.
"Usagi, daijobu?" asked Rei as Usagi opened the door and came out of the bathroom.
Usagi shook her head. "I want to go home," she replied, barely audible.
Rei nodded solemnly and put a hand on Usagi's shoulder. "I'll go with her, minna. I'll call you when we get to her place."
Ami hugged Usagi. "Feel better."
Makoto looked from Usagi to Rei, and nodded in reply. "Okay. Will you be coming back, Rei-chan?"
"I might or might not, I'll tell you when I call!"
Makoto nodded. "Hai."
Usagi turned to Makoto. "Gomen ne, Mako-chan, minna..."
Minako shook her head and gave Usagi a hug too. "Usagi-chan, you must be feeling pretty sick. Get better soon!"
********
Rei led Usagi to the door and waved to her friends, then took the small pigtailed girl downstairs the way they came. She was quiet the whole time, deep in thought.
Usagi was so out of it that she didn't realize they were already at her home. "Arigatou, Rei-chan," Usagi whispered, refusing to make eye contact.
Rei looked at Usagi and then at the full moon in the sky. "Usagi..." She sighed again, for what was probably the five millionth time, and looked back down at her. "I really hope you feel better soon. Get better for me, would you, Usagi-chan?" With that, she led her up to the door.
Usagi gave Rei a hug, but refused to let go. She began to cry again. "Rei-chan, gomen nasai! I try to cheer up, but then I think of Mamo-chan lying in that hospital bed and I can't be happy or excited about anything."
Rei returned the hug. "Usagi... it's okay. I know how painful it must be for you, but... I just can't stand to see you like this. What I'm seeing isn't Usagi Tsukino... it's more like... oh, I don't know. But I just know that the way you're acting isn't you." Rei looked at her friend closely and smiled. "Just remember
we're here for you."
Usagi nodded. "Arigatou."
Rei opened the door and ushered her smaller friend in, saying hello to Usagi's parents and explaining to them that she hadn't been feeling well.
Usagi let Rei help her into bed. Rei was about to leave when Usagi called out to her. "Hai, Usagi-chan?" Rei said, a puzzled looked crossing her face as she turned around.
"Will you stay tonight? Luna's busy and I don't want to be alone."
Rei nodded. "Hai, Usagi." Turning to walk to the door, she said over her shoulder, "Scared of the dark?" A small smile played at the corners of her mouth as she spoke.
Usagi let out a yawn as she settled down to sleep. "Iie... scared I'll lose myself..."