Everyone watched as Chibi-Usa disappeared. The group stood in an uncomfortable silence that was broken by Ami's beeper.
"Rei may I use your phone?" Ami asked glancing at her beeper.
"Yeah, go ahead." Rei nodded.
"How is Chibi-Usa supposed to now when to come home?" Minako asked tearfully.
"When she gets there the Luna Ball will appear." Setsuna tapped her watch "She can reach me at anytime through this."
"Where did Mamoru-San go?" Haruka asked.
"America. There is a Sailor Senshi left to find. And she may be able to help us, help Usagi-Chan."
"We've got to go to the hospital." Ami announced coming back into the room.
"What's wrong? What happened to Usagi?" Haruka asked quickly.
"She's come out of her coma." Ami replied.
"Is she OK?" Minako asked.
"Well, I have to get there to check on her." Ami smiled. "But it's a good sign."
"Where could she be?" Seiya asked pacing passing Haruka who was passing also.
"She's been in there for half an hour." Haruka's voice was nervous.
"Here she comes!" Hotaru exclaimed.
Everyone's faces that once held a hopeful expression fell at the look of grief on Ami's face.
"Ami-Chan what's wrong?" Seiya asked.
Ami sat on a chair in the middle of the group. "Usagi-Chan life can not be sustained without the Silver Crystal. It's like," Ami took a deep breath to keep from crying, "if a person's major organs fail they can't live without being connected to machines or an organ transplant. That's the way Usagi's connection to the Silver Crystal is. But there is no machine or transplant we can do to help her. The other doctors don't know this but Usagi-Chan is going to die. There is nothing any of us can do to help her. You all can see her now. She knows she is going to die soon."
Everyone headed in silence to the hospital room Usagi was in, but Minako fell back.
"Minako-Chan aren't you coming?" Yaten asked.
Minako shook her head, tears streaming down her face "I can't. How can I go in there and face my best-friend when we both know she is going to die?"
Yaten wrapped her arms tightly around Minako "You can go in there because she is your best friend, and she is going to die."
Minako nodded, "I know your right."
Yaten took Minako's hand and they followed the group.
"Hi guys come in." Usagi's words were above a whisper but she had a cheerful tone to her voice.
Everyone gathered slowly around Usagi, Haruka and Seiya taking both of her hands. "How are you feeling Kitten?"
"Like a bus ran over me." Usagi replied with a slight giggle.
Haruka and Seiya shot a "look" towards Ami "Haven't you been on pain killers?"
Usagi smiled, "No, I didn't want them. When I fall asleep…" Usagi didn't need to finish her sentence. Usagi looked around her, her gaze falling on Minako "Minako-Chan don't cry for me…" She smiled at Yaten "I'm so happy for the both of you, I'm so glad that you two could be together after everything we have all gone through. You to Ami-Chan, Taiki-kun, you all found a love that will last forever. I just wish I could be at the wedding…" Usagi shook her head, "I will be there though, watching over all of you, for always." Usagi turned her head slightly toward Michiru and Haruka. "Thank you so much. I know that this is the one thing you have wanted to prevent from happening, it's not your fault so don't blame yourself OK?"
"But Koneko we could have…"
"No, don't say it Haruka," Usagi interrupted, "you couldn't have prevented this, it was inevitable. You'll see that in time. And all of you for the first time in a long time have the chance to persuade your dreams and goals…Seiya I-" Usagi's eyes filled with tears. "I'm so sorry!" Usagi burst into tears with her words.
Seiya leaned over Usagi, "Sorry for what?" Seiya gently wiped the tears from Usagi's cheeks.
"For everything I have put you through. For everything I've done to you."
"Don't apologize, I love you. Usagi, I would rather have gone through hell and back then never to have met you." Seiya brushed a soft lock of golden hair away from Usagi's face and he hesitantly kissed Usagi softly on the lips.
As Seiya pulled away Usagi's eyes got a far away look in them. "She's going to help you. Just trust her OK? Promise me you will trust her."
"Who?" Haruka asked.
Usagi shook her head, "I don't know." Usagi's expression changed to that of sadness "Don't cry for me OK? Everything will be OK in the end you'll see."
Suddenly the door opened and the nurse walked in. "What are you doing in here? You can't be here. Visiting hours are over."
Ami nodded, "You guys need to say goodbye. Can you give them a minute."
The nurse nodded, "Yes, doctor." The nurse quietly closed the door behind her.
"God Usagi you can't go!" Rei exclaimed.
"Rei-Chan, I can't stay, my mother is waiting for me."
"Princess your crescent moon…" Michiru exclaimed.
"I know." Usagi responded "It's almost time. I will see you again I promise."
Everyone filed solemnly out of the room. Suddenly Minako ran from the group at breakneck speed. Sobbing as she went, Minako ran out the sliding doors to the exit of the hospital. Minako put her hands out in front of her to keep from running into the brick wall. Minako sank to her knees sobbing into the night.
"Makoto would you like us to take you home?" Haruka asked, "We can make room for you."
Rei, Setsuna and Hotaru already sat in the back seat. Yaten had gone after Minako and Taiki was taking a stunned Seiya home. Makoto shook her head. "No, I don't think so, I think I am going to walk home."
"Are you sure?"
Makoto blinked back tears and nodded.
Motoki picked up the phone "Hello?"
"Motoki-kun?"
Motoki's breath caught in his through. To most people Ami's voice would sound professional, but Motoki had known her for 12 years now and he could tell she was upset. "Is Usagi-Chan OK?"
"No…Motoki she…she's gone…"
"Ami-Chan I'm sorry. Where is chibi-Usa-Chan?"
"She went to stay with family. She left earlier today. Mamoru-san is in America."
"Thanks for calling me Ami-Chan." Motoki replied softly "I'm sorry."
Motoki sat quietly for a second and then grabbed his keys and headed for Makoto's apartment. Knowing her she would be home by herself.
Motoki reached up to ring the doorbell when he heard something shatter. Motoki ran the bell quickly "Makoto-Chan? It's Motoki! Will you let me in?" No response "Makoto-Chan I know your upset. Will you let me in?"
"Go away Motoki-kun." Makoto's words were filled with tears.
The next sound was that of something else shattering. Motoki turned the doorknob slowly pushing it open. He cautiously walked into Makoto's apartment as another sound of glass shattering reached Motoki's ears, this time it was obvious was the noise coming from the kitchen.
Motoki found Makoto on the kitchen floor her harms bleeding from cuts on them. She didn't notice Motoki at first, she was busy preparing to cut herself again. Motoki kneeled next to her "I thought I told you to go away?" Makoto demanded through her teardrops.
Motoki was now kneeling in front of Makoto "Makoto why are you doing this?"
"What's the point? What the point to being alive if Usagi isn't?" Makoto's hands were shaking violently.
Motoki took both of her hands into his and then he pulled Makoto to him. Makoto clung to him sobbing into his chest. The two sat like that for a long time, when Makoto's sobs slowed and then were replaced by gasps for air Motoki scooped her up and carried her to the bathroom, setting her gently on the counter. Gingerly Motoki set to cleaning the cuts on Makoto's arms. "This might sting." Motoki warned before applying alcohol. Makoto flinched but didn't make a sound. "The cuts aren't deep but they are going to hurt tomorrow."
"Thanks Motoki-kun."
"You should get some sleep." Motoki suggested, "I can see myself out."
"Thanks Motoki-kun." Makoto sniffed.
"I'll stop by tomorrow OK?" Motoki hugged Makoto and kissed her softly on the cheek.
That night Makoto cried herself to sleep. But when she woke the next morning the glass was gone, and only the sting of her arms was a reminder of what had happened the night before.
*shatter* "Haruka at least say something please." Michiru implored. Her eyes were swollen and red rimmed from years. After they had dropped Rei off at the temple the grave outer senshi returned to their home. Setsuna retreating to her room, Michiru and Hotaru had gone to the foyer they had talked and cried about Usagi. And Haruka had retreated to the bottle. That had been hours ago, and Haruka hadn't let up nor said a word.
"What do you want me to say Michi?" Haruka slurred, "That I'm sorry she is gone? There was nothing we could do? May she rest in peace and talk about the good old days when she was alive? I don't think so! This was our fault yours and I. We were supposed to be able to help her. To protect her from every evil! You know what I'm going to do?" Haruka rose shakily to her feet. "I'm gonna kill the son of a bitch who killed out princess!" *shatter* Haruka smashed another crystal tumbler against the wall.
"Haruka don't so this." Michiru touched Haruka's shoulder lightly.
Haruka pushed her hand away violently and grabbed her car keys that sat on the counter.
"No, Haruka. You're not going anywhere." Michiru grabbed the keys from the taller blonde, she dropped the keys in the fire in the fire place.
"Damn you Michiru!" Haruka screamed in anger *smash*. "This is all Seiya's fault." *crash* this time it was all of the glasses that shattered.
Setsuna sighed she could hear the crashes down the hall. She hadn't made any move to see what was wrong. She could distinctly hear Haruka's drunk slur and Michiru's tear pleads for Haruka to calm down.
Even Setsuna, the one person who had once known everything was clueless as they why Usagi had died, it wasn't supposed to have happened this way. Setsuna sighed and went back to staring out the window, depression sinking in, she didn't know what was happening, but already the world was slowly crumbling with Usagi gone, and it was starting with the ruin of the senshi.
"You are allowed to be upset." Taiki said as Ami finished working on something from work.
"Upset? Why?" Ami asked. "I'm the doctor, Usagi was the patient, doctors sometimes loose their patients. There was nothing I could do to help her."
"Ami, forget all your training for right now!" Taiki exclaimed. "Your best friend died today. You are allowed to cry."
"I can't afford to cry. I have to much work to do." Ami stammered.
Taiki walked up to Ami and put his arms around her pulling Ami into a tight hug. Ami didn't cry but she clung to Taiki as if her life depended on it.
Chad tip toed quickly passed Rei's room so as not to wake her. Rei had come home and had talked only enough to tell them of what had happened. Instead of the silence from inside though there was a new sounds there, the sound of tears. Chad slid open the door slowly and peeked in, Rei sat on her bed tears streaming down her face, staring out the window up at the moon.
Chad sat on the bed next to Rei and Rei and leaned against him, she didn't cry into his shoulder like he had expected him to. In time Rei finally fell asleep her head resting on Chad's chest.
"Rei may I use your phone?" Ami asked glancing at her beeper.
"Yeah, go ahead." Rei nodded.
"How is Chibi-Usa supposed to now when to come home?" Minako asked tearfully.
"When she gets there the Luna Ball will appear." Setsuna tapped her watch "She can reach me at anytime through this."
"Where did Mamoru-San go?" Haruka asked.
"America. There is a Sailor Senshi left to find. And she may be able to help us, help Usagi-Chan."
"We've got to go to the hospital." Ami announced coming back into the room.
"What's wrong? What happened to Usagi?" Haruka asked quickly.
"She's come out of her coma." Ami replied.
"Is she OK?" Minako asked.
"Well, I have to get there to check on her." Ami smiled. "But it's a good sign."
"Where could she be?" Seiya asked pacing passing Haruka who was passing also.
"She's been in there for half an hour." Haruka's voice was nervous.
"Here she comes!" Hotaru exclaimed.
Everyone's faces that once held a hopeful expression fell at the look of grief on Ami's face.
"Ami-Chan what's wrong?" Seiya asked.
Ami sat on a chair in the middle of the group. "Usagi-Chan life can not be sustained without the Silver Crystal. It's like," Ami took a deep breath to keep from crying, "if a person's major organs fail they can't live without being connected to machines or an organ transplant. That's the way Usagi's connection to the Silver Crystal is. But there is no machine or transplant we can do to help her. The other doctors don't know this but Usagi-Chan is going to die. There is nothing any of us can do to help her. You all can see her now. She knows she is going to die soon."
Everyone headed in silence to the hospital room Usagi was in, but Minako fell back.
"Minako-Chan aren't you coming?" Yaten asked.
Minako shook her head, tears streaming down her face "I can't. How can I go in there and face my best-friend when we both know she is going to die?"
Yaten wrapped her arms tightly around Minako "You can go in there because she is your best friend, and she is going to die."
Minako nodded, "I know your right."
Yaten took Minako's hand and they followed the group.
"Hi guys come in." Usagi's words were above a whisper but she had a cheerful tone to her voice.
Everyone gathered slowly around Usagi, Haruka and Seiya taking both of her hands. "How are you feeling Kitten?"
"Like a bus ran over me." Usagi replied with a slight giggle.
Haruka and Seiya shot a "look" towards Ami "Haven't you been on pain killers?"
Usagi smiled, "No, I didn't want them. When I fall asleep…" Usagi didn't need to finish her sentence. Usagi looked around her, her gaze falling on Minako "Minako-Chan don't cry for me…" She smiled at Yaten "I'm so happy for the both of you, I'm so glad that you two could be together after everything we have all gone through. You to Ami-Chan, Taiki-kun, you all found a love that will last forever. I just wish I could be at the wedding…" Usagi shook her head, "I will be there though, watching over all of you, for always." Usagi turned her head slightly toward Michiru and Haruka. "Thank you so much. I know that this is the one thing you have wanted to prevent from happening, it's not your fault so don't blame yourself OK?"
"But Koneko we could have…"
"No, don't say it Haruka," Usagi interrupted, "you couldn't have prevented this, it was inevitable. You'll see that in time. And all of you for the first time in a long time have the chance to persuade your dreams and goals…Seiya I-" Usagi's eyes filled with tears. "I'm so sorry!" Usagi burst into tears with her words.
Seiya leaned over Usagi, "Sorry for what?" Seiya gently wiped the tears from Usagi's cheeks.
"For everything I have put you through. For everything I've done to you."
"Don't apologize, I love you. Usagi, I would rather have gone through hell and back then never to have met you." Seiya brushed a soft lock of golden hair away from Usagi's face and he hesitantly kissed Usagi softly on the lips.
As Seiya pulled away Usagi's eyes got a far away look in them. "She's going to help you. Just trust her OK? Promise me you will trust her."
"Who?" Haruka asked.
Usagi shook her head, "I don't know." Usagi's expression changed to that of sadness "Don't cry for me OK? Everything will be OK in the end you'll see."
Suddenly the door opened and the nurse walked in. "What are you doing in here? You can't be here. Visiting hours are over."
Ami nodded, "You guys need to say goodbye. Can you give them a minute."
The nurse nodded, "Yes, doctor." The nurse quietly closed the door behind her.
"God Usagi you can't go!" Rei exclaimed.
"Rei-Chan, I can't stay, my mother is waiting for me."
"Princess your crescent moon…" Michiru exclaimed.
"I know." Usagi responded "It's almost time. I will see you again I promise."
Everyone filed solemnly out of the room. Suddenly Minako ran from the group at breakneck speed. Sobbing as she went, Minako ran out the sliding doors to the exit of the hospital. Minako put her hands out in front of her to keep from running into the brick wall. Minako sank to her knees sobbing into the night.
"Makoto would you like us to take you home?" Haruka asked, "We can make room for you."
Rei, Setsuna and Hotaru already sat in the back seat. Yaten had gone after Minako and Taiki was taking a stunned Seiya home. Makoto shook her head. "No, I don't think so, I think I am going to walk home."
"Are you sure?"
Makoto blinked back tears and nodded.
Motoki picked up the phone "Hello?"
"Motoki-kun?"
Motoki's breath caught in his through. To most people Ami's voice would sound professional, but Motoki had known her for 12 years now and he could tell she was upset. "Is Usagi-Chan OK?"
"No…Motoki she…she's gone…"
"Ami-Chan I'm sorry. Where is chibi-Usa-Chan?"
"She went to stay with family. She left earlier today. Mamoru-san is in America."
"Thanks for calling me Ami-Chan." Motoki replied softly "I'm sorry."
Motoki sat quietly for a second and then grabbed his keys and headed for Makoto's apartment. Knowing her she would be home by herself.
Motoki reached up to ring the doorbell when he heard something shatter. Motoki ran the bell quickly "Makoto-Chan? It's Motoki! Will you let me in?" No response "Makoto-Chan I know your upset. Will you let me in?"
"Go away Motoki-kun." Makoto's words were filled with tears.
The next sound was that of something else shattering. Motoki turned the doorknob slowly pushing it open. He cautiously walked into Makoto's apartment as another sound of glass shattering reached Motoki's ears, this time it was obvious was the noise coming from the kitchen.
Motoki found Makoto on the kitchen floor her harms bleeding from cuts on them. She didn't notice Motoki at first, she was busy preparing to cut herself again. Motoki kneeled next to her "I thought I told you to go away?" Makoto demanded through her teardrops.
Motoki was now kneeling in front of Makoto "Makoto why are you doing this?"
"What's the point? What the point to being alive if Usagi isn't?" Makoto's hands were shaking violently.
Motoki took both of her hands into his and then he pulled Makoto to him. Makoto clung to him sobbing into his chest. The two sat like that for a long time, when Makoto's sobs slowed and then were replaced by gasps for air Motoki scooped her up and carried her to the bathroom, setting her gently on the counter. Gingerly Motoki set to cleaning the cuts on Makoto's arms. "This might sting." Motoki warned before applying alcohol. Makoto flinched but didn't make a sound. "The cuts aren't deep but they are going to hurt tomorrow."
"Thanks Motoki-kun."
"You should get some sleep." Motoki suggested, "I can see myself out."
"Thanks Motoki-kun." Makoto sniffed.
"I'll stop by tomorrow OK?" Motoki hugged Makoto and kissed her softly on the cheek.
That night Makoto cried herself to sleep. But when she woke the next morning the glass was gone, and only the sting of her arms was a reminder of what had happened the night before.
*shatter* "Haruka at least say something please." Michiru implored. Her eyes were swollen and red rimmed from years. After they had dropped Rei off at the temple the grave outer senshi returned to their home. Setsuna retreating to her room, Michiru and Hotaru had gone to the foyer they had talked and cried about Usagi. And Haruka had retreated to the bottle. That had been hours ago, and Haruka hadn't let up nor said a word.
"What do you want me to say Michi?" Haruka slurred, "That I'm sorry she is gone? There was nothing we could do? May she rest in peace and talk about the good old days when she was alive? I don't think so! This was our fault yours and I. We were supposed to be able to help her. To protect her from every evil! You know what I'm going to do?" Haruka rose shakily to her feet. "I'm gonna kill the son of a bitch who killed out princess!" *shatter* Haruka smashed another crystal tumbler against the wall.
"Haruka don't so this." Michiru touched Haruka's shoulder lightly.
Haruka pushed her hand away violently and grabbed her car keys that sat on the counter.
"No, Haruka. You're not going anywhere." Michiru grabbed the keys from the taller blonde, she dropped the keys in the fire in the fire place.
"Damn you Michiru!" Haruka screamed in anger *smash*. "This is all Seiya's fault." *crash* this time it was all of the glasses that shattered.
Setsuna sighed she could hear the crashes down the hall. She hadn't made any move to see what was wrong. She could distinctly hear Haruka's drunk slur and Michiru's tear pleads for Haruka to calm down.
Even Setsuna, the one person who had once known everything was clueless as they why Usagi had died, it wasn't supposed to have happened this way. Setsuna sighed and went back to staring out the window, depression sinking in, she didn't know what was happening, but already the world was slowly crumbling with Usagi gone, and it was starting with the ruin of the senshi.
"You are allowed to be upset." Taiki said as Ami finished working on something from work.
"Upset? Why?" Ami asked. "I'm the doctor, Usagi was the patient, doctors sometimes loose their patients. There was nothing I could do to help her."
"Ami, forget all your training for right now!" Taiki exclaimed. "Your best friend died today. You are allowed to cry."
"I can't afford to cry. I have to much work to do." Ami stammered.
Taiki walked up to Ami and put his arms around her pulling Ami into a tight hug. Ami didn't cry but she clung to Taiki as if her life depended on it.
Chad tip toed quickly passed Rei's room so as not to wake her. Rei had come home and had talked only enough to tell them of what had happened. Instead of the silence from inside though there was a new sounds there, the sound of tears. Chad slid open the door slowly and peeked in, Rei sat on her bed tears streaming down her face, staring out the window up at the moon.
Chad sat on the bed next to Rei and Rei and leaned against him, she didn't cry into his shoulder like he had expected him to. In time Rei finally fell asleep her head resting on Chad's chest.