Konnichiha, again, minna! Grr...I could just kill my Publisher program! I had to go back and check it again just to see if any other parts looked so choppy. - -;; Plus, I could kick myself in the ass for spelling Makoto's name wrong! Makoto, Yuuhou-baka! I don't even know why I didn't spell it right the first time. Sheesh.
Well, minna, I'm trying to get this uploaded, and hopefully, wrap up "Timid" as well...because *trumpets blaring* ta da! Milk and I are preparing our first co-write Sailor Moon season/series. It will be set sometime after her "Serena's Strength" story and right before the dawn of Crystal Tokyo. It's the epic I was talking about involving: the Inners (which includes the senshi you love and know, with Sabastian Moon and Tuxedo Kamen), the Outers (which includes all you know and Sailor Sun, who hai, folks, is an Outer), our new senshi, Sailor Alpha-Omega, plus senshi from all across the Universe! Senshi, senshi, and more senshi! Just wanted to clue you in! ^^
*darts around, looking for an angry Milk, who might slap her for giving some clues...gomen! - -;; I can't help it; I'm so excited!*

Disclaimer: I am confident that you know that Sailor Moon belongs to Naoko-sensei (the one TRUE owner), and that even though she loves reading Sailor Moon fanfiction, she would probably have my head on a platter if I said I owned my favorite manga characters and was making money from this. Which I'm not. So there. Nana nana boo boo. But I do own the story, so evil story-snatchers, BEWARE!
Umm...the book "Nightmares and Dreamscapes" belongs to Stephen King, but I like the title, and I hope he doesn't hurt me too badly.

Fever Dream, Part Three: Nightmares and Dreamscapes
By Houkanno Yuuhou

Falling. In her dreams she is falling into darkness. The laughter of her friends covers her like a thick blanket, and she just can't toss it aside, no matter how hard she tries.
Are they laughing at something amusing? Or are they laughing at her?
She can hear the concern in their voices as they hear her tossing and turning in her dream. Someone reaches into the dark and smoothes her hair. A voice--Mamo-chan's--tells her that everything is all right, to stop crying. Another voice that sounds like it belongs to Rei says that Usagi-baka doesn't look so well, ie, not at all.
Why can't she see them? She can hear them through the dream, their voices surrounding her in the dark. Their love for her fills her completely and in places in her that she never knew existed. She wants to wake up, oh, so badly, but it's all too confusing. Which is the dream? Which one?
Once more, she hears Rei's voice, and she never realized how beautiful it was until just now, until she listened without looking at her. She sounds sweet and loving, her voice soft like silk as she whispers that everything is fine, and just wake up, Usagi-chan, wake up.
But where in the world will she wake up this time?

Shimatta.
She finally woke up when the sunlight reached her eyes; the brightness stinging until finally she gave up, turned on her side, glanced at the alarm clock and screamed, "Ie! It's 7:45!"
She jumped out of bed and raced to the bathroom. Only when she looked in the mirror did she wonder where she woke up. Of course she was in her house, but was she Sailor Moon here?
A curious meow came from behind her, startling her, and then she felt a fur body wrapping itself around her ankles, waiting for affection. "Konnichiha, Luna." She bent to pet Luna's friendly, furry face, and was rewarded with a surprise instead; Luna hissed and scratched her. "Luna!"
The small black cat hurried out of the bathroom, but stopped around the corner and sat down, eyes fixated on Usagi as she gathered her hair, planning to make her usual buns. "Oh, forget it," she told her mirror-twin. If she was still stuck in this crazy place where everyone acted so strange, then why not join them? So she left her hair down.
Luna stared at her. "What, Luna, you crazy cat? Going to scratch me again?" Luna shook her head and waltzed away. "Strange cat."
She put on her uniform and slowly descended downstairs. Everything around her still seemed fake, and briefly, she remembered the awful dream from the night before. She could still hear Rei's sweet voice calling for her to wake up, and Mamo-chan's hastened chant that everything was fine, and that he loved her.
But she also remembered the darkness that engulfed her, the never-ending pit that she fell through. She remembered the evil laughter and shivered.
Her mother noticed and paused from setting the table. "Are you all right, Usa? You are trembling."
Usagi nodded. There was no sense in scaring her mother. Besides, one more crazy comment, and it might be "off to the loony bin for Usagi" because her father was sitting at the table, too, even though his eyes were fixated on his newspaper. "I'm fine, Mama-san. Just a nightmare."
Ikuko's eyes returned to the plates left in her hands. "Did you dream about those girls again, Usagi?"
Great. Nevermind about worrying her mother; she already "was" worried! "Nani? What do you mean, Mama-san?"
Ikuko placed the last dish in front of Kenji. After she wiped her hands on her apron, she looked up, her eyes full of fear and concern. "You called out their names. You called for 'Rei-chan' mostly, and you also screamed for 'Mamo-chan'."
Kenji looked up from his paper. "Nani?! Mamo-chan?!" Usagi could see the veins on his neck pulsating, and she cast her eyes at the floor. "You are too young to date, and that is final!"
Ikuko laughed at Kenji who glared at her in return. "He's a dream boyfriend, daarin."
Kenji breathed a sigh of relief. "Hai, good then." Then glancing at Usagi over his glasses, he muttered, "But I'd prefer you don't even dream about boyfriends yet."
"Good grief." Ikuko sighed and returned to the stove.
Rather than saying something that might upset him more, Usagi just shook her head in frustration. Same old Papa-san. He would never change.
She grabbed her backpack, determined to get out of there at all costs so she could find Rei. "Mama-san, gomen, I don't have time for breakfast. I'm late for school."
Before she could get out the door, Ikuko called frantically, "But it's Saturday!"
Oh, shimatta! Now what would she do? "Oh, Mama-san," she laughed, no matter how phony it sounded, "I forgot. Can I go to the mall instead then? I really need to go somewhere to...to clear my mind," she stuttered. Though lying to Mama-san was something akin to evil, she really needed to see Rei.
Ikuko smiled and nodded. "I understand. Just be back before supper, ne?"
Usagi nodded. "Hai. Arigatou, Mama-san, Papa-san." Ikuko turned to finish breakfast, and Kenji nodded his approval. "Sayonara!" she sang out as screen door slammed shut, announcing her departure.
The sun shone brightly in the sky as if it didn't know that something was amiss in the universe. Birds warbled their carefree songs, and crickets chirped without consideration. Everywhere she looked, not one look of worry could be found. Except on herself. Such a nice summer day, really. A day for children to play, a day for ice cream sodas shared by lovers….
She sighed and wiped at the tears falling from her tired eyes. It was high-time to find Rei. It was high-time to wake up.

She found the raven-haired beauty sweeping the stairs, as usual. Rei's crow-friends were perched on her shoulders, painstakingly watching Usagi's every move. Their glares weighed so heavy on Usagi's conscience that she was forced to bow her head. It seemed they knew something she didn't. "Gomennasai. I need to speak with you," she whispered and raised her head hopefully.
The broom stopped suddenly, and Rei looked up in confusion. It seemed she was sizing up Usagi. Finally, she nodded to herself and said bluntly, "Come with me. I have a couple of seconds."
Usagi followed Rei to the tiny room with the fire where Rei got all of her visions. She paused and glanced back at Usagi, as if she was waiting for Usagi to call her a freak and run away.
Just like her Rei-chan.
"Go on," Usagi urged and sat lotus-style on the floor. Rei nodded and began to chant while the fire grew stronger and higher. The flames were so bright that Usagi had to shield her eyes, and she began to worry that Rei's hair would catch on fire. "Um...I know you need to concentrate, but...uh...your hair…." The words died on her tongue; Rei wasn't paying attention to her so she just returned her gaze to the floor beneath her.
Finally, the chanting ceased, and Rei's eyes opened once more. Without turning to face Usagi, she whispered fearfully, "I know why you're here!"
"And?"
Rei's body jerked around, her eyes pools of pure terror and understanding. "You know me! I don't understand why….oh, nevermind, I said that; I 'do' understand why," she mumbled hatefully, "but this is silly! I can see your dreams clearly." She averted her eyes elsewhere, preferring not to look at Usagi just then. "I know that you believe I am your friend, and I feel drawn to you," she admitted shyly, blush creeping up her neck. Then she threw her head up defiantly and shouted, "Get out of here! Your dreams are wrong!"
"Nani?" Usagi whispered weakly, but she knew why Rei was turning on her. "Rei-chan-"
"Don't talk to me!" Rei yelled and pushed Usagi out of the temple, toward the stairs. "Go away! Your dreams are evil! You are evil! This is all wrong!"
A single tear dropped from Usagi's crumbling face and onto Rei's arm. Rei exhaled painfully, trying to keep her own tears in check. "Oh, Rei-chan," Usagi cried and held onto Rei's arms, unwilling to let go. "Not you too!" She sniffed and whispered softly, painfully, "I need you, Rei. I want my friends back!" she howled, tears streaming down her face finally.
"Just go away," Rei stammered and ran into the temple, slamming the paper door shut behind her.
Usagi cried out in frustration. How the hell could she survive without her friends?
Again, the sun was shining brightly, hatefully, and the birds' songs and the crickets' chirps combined to form one continuous piercing shrill, as if punishing her for being so sad. Depressed on a day when she should be joyous.
Screaming, crying, she ran down the stairs, not tripping once, and in a fit of rage, she realized that she had not "klutzed-out" once. That was the last straw. She could take no more, and as she dropped to the sidewalk, she let the universe hear her anguished cry of defeat. Maybe she was crazy. Maybe she "had" dreamed two years worth of dreams because she was nothing more than a pathetic small whip of a girl with no friends. This fate wasn't cruel; she had just been born in the wrong place, and that dream-Usagi was the person she aspired to be. Klutzy maybe, a crybaby perhaps, but full of hope, full of passion, full of wonder in a magical world.
She wailed one last time for the Usagi she could have been-wanted to be, and then rose from the ground, sighing. What use were dreams when that Usagi had never been born in the first place?
A small white cat watched her from the bushes, glancing up when it heard a great rustling of leaves behind it. It nodded to two girls, and they frowned their reply. The brunette stayed with the cat as the blonde crept up to Usagi. "You look like you could use a friend."
Usagi recognized that voice! Minako! She smiled and turned to greet her friend, but thought better of it. Even if she believed that silly dream, this Minako probably didn't know her and was just being nice. "Hai," she replied dejectedly. "I believe I could."
Minako extended her hand, and Usagi readily took it. As she stood, she heard footsteps and was surprised when she found out it was Makoto. "I'm Minako, and that's my friend Makoto." Makoto nodded, and a white ball of fluff moved in her arms, making Usagi jump. Artemis! "And that's my cat, Artemis, but he's a grouch today, so don't mind him."
Makoto smiled and offered Usagi her hand. "I've seen you around school."
"Hai," Usagi answered. "I've seen you, too."
Minako laughed. "Well, great then! We can always use one more friend."
"We were going to the Crown to fawn over that cute blonde that works behind the counter," Makoto said dreamily.
"I bet he reminds you of one of your old boyfriends!" Usagi giggled, forgetting herself.
"How did you know that?" Makoto asked, surprised.
Minako grinned and elbowed Makoto. "Onegai, Mako-chan, anyone can tell by looking at your face!"
Oh, praise that wonderful, wonderful Minako! She'd saved Usagi's ass again without realizing it. Usagi nodded shyly. "Hai. I know that guy. His name is Motoki, and he's a friend of mine. I bet I can get you some free ice cream." Usagi smiled sweetly.
"All right!" Makoto and Minako yelled at the same time, causing Usagi to giggle. Same old Minako and Makoto.
As they walked to the Crown, Makoto asked, "What's your name? I forgot to ask." Minako shook her head, and Makoto blushed. "Gomen, I'm such a baka."
Usagi grinned, even though inside she was hurting. They really didn't know her. "Tsukino Usagi, and that's all right. I'm such a baka for forgetting to tell you."
All three were laughing and carrying on as they entered the Crown. Usagi had begun to actually feel half-way normal for once. That is until her breath caught in her throat as she realized who was directly in front of her, blocking her way. "Mamo-chan!" she yelped.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
That's it until tomorrow, minna! I've revised my story a bit because parts were bugging me. I really hope someone out there is enjoying this. I'm so terribly sorry to leave cliffhangers *evil grin* but I can't help it! I like hanging at the edge myself! And no fear, I will post the rest no matter how many reviews I get! ^^ Ja ne!