Faded
by Zandrellia - zandrellia@excite.com

Tragedy strikes and a journey through life and pain
begins for Chiba Usagi.

Disclaimers:
I don't own Sailor Moon, it was never my idea. I just
thought a really good horror fic should be written for
the show. I hope I lived up to my ideals.

Part Two: Ami's Plight
*****

Makoto moaned as she reached up with a weary hand to
touch her face and sighed as she felt the scars that
were forming. "I probably look like hell."

Minako, who was sitting in a stumpy chair next to the bed,
smiled and shook her head. "Nah. You look like you always
do when you get in a fight."

The brunette smirked at this and turned slightly to look
around. "Yeah but this time I lost. Where's everybody?
What happened to Ami?"

At this usually bubbly Minako frowned and heaved a long
sigh. "Usagi, Mamoru, and Chibi-Usa are all saying
goodbye to her parents. Haruka and Michiru are still in
the waiting room where Rei and Yuuichirou are sleeping
sound. And Ami.. she's in ICU. Her body is the frailest of
all of ours, even compared to Usagi's, and she was standing
next to the car when it blew."

"Oh no. I hope she'll be ok. Do they have any idea what
happened to her car?" Makoto asked as she saw Michiru
coming down the hallway, probably checking on everyone.

"Well.. they won't tell us. That makes me think that they
don't really know and just can't admit it." The blonde
said as she leaned back into the chair. "This thing feels
like it's made of cardboard and mason bricks."

"So you're in charge of watching me and making sure I
get all I need, right? Who's watching Ami?"

"No one will let us near Ami yet. She's not completely
stable at the moment. The doctor says she lost a lot of
blood and now her body is going through minor shocks.
He said we should all just be glad that you aren't in the
same condition."

Makoto sighed and winced from the pain in her lower
chest. "Oh well. I suppose there's nothing we can do
about it right now. Could you get me some coffee,
please?"

"Sure."

*****

Usagi sighed as she watched her daughter cry next to
her dying mother's bed. She didn't have the heart to
explain to her that grandma couldn't see or hear her
anymore.

-I suppose I could have told her that they were both in
a deep, peaceful sleep from which they would never
wake. But that would be lying to her and I would rather
not have to tell her at all than lie for one moment.- She
turned to gaze up at Mamoru who did his best to remain
strong for her but she could see him crumbling inside.

Closing her eyes from the dismal scene before her Usagi
remembered the first time she knew that her mother had
already known that she and Mamoru were going to be more
than casual enemies.

***

Ikuko laughed a full and happy peal as the young man again
attempted to pull the cookies off the baking sheet. "You left
them in just a few minutes too long. I suppose it's for the
best."

A frown marred Mamoru's face as he glanced up at the violet
haired woman. "Why is that?"

"Well, for one, it's always best to learn from example. The
more mistakes you make the better you will be at not
making them." She smiled at him and turned to pick up a
clean bowl and baking sheet. "And besides, you didn't put
any vanilla in. They taste like cardboard."

"Arg! How am I supposed to do this right? Why do they even
require such a stupid course for graduation!?" He threw the
burnt pan into the sink and sat down on a kitchen stool with
a huff.

The elder woman smiled gently as if his tantrum had never
happened and flipped the pages of the cookbook
thoughtfully. "These are Usagi's favorites. Poor girl. She's
tried many times but baking is not her specialty." Smiling
she turned and began to pull the ingredients out. "Perhaps
they require a course like home ecinomics because young
people like you aren't taught when you are children how to
properly feed yourselves. How are you ever going to have
your own children if you cannot even cook for yourself
let alone for them?"

Mamoru fidgeted nervously but glanced at the book. -It
shouldn't be that hard. And they're Usagi's favorite.- "I
guess that makes sense but I doubt I'll even have children.
And even if I do I'm sure my wife would be the best cook in
the world."

"Oh, I'm sorry honey. I'm already married." Ikuko said with
a wink and laughed. "However, I do have this absolutely
beautiful daughter who can't cook to save her life. But she's
a great conversationalist and always knows what to do or
say to make others feel better."

"Usagi doesn't have to say anything to make others feel
better." Mamoru said as he began measuring the flour.
"Now, can I substitute something for shortening? I think
you're out."

Ikuko smiled at his tact but let him slide and rummaged
through the cupboards. "Yes, you can use cooking oil or
butter. Either will give the same effect. Just be careful if
you use oil because it won't have a creamy texture when
you are finished folding, you'll have to guess and that can
become messy."

Usagi stood behind the archway that lead into the kitchen
and put her hands on her face to cool the burning. -Why
am I blushing like an idiot?! It's just Mamoru!- She turned
and quickly but quietly padded up the stairs to her room.

***

Usagi opened her eyes back to reality and smiled up at her
husband. Little did she know he was thinking of the very
same day.

Mamoru's eyes watered slightly as he looked at the gentle
woman who lay on the bed. It wasn't ever right that gifts
such as her had to leave so quickly and angrily.

***

He pulled the perfectly golden chocolate peanutbutter
swirl cookies from the oven and placed the baking sheet
on the counter to cool. -I hope Usagi likes them. Wait,
who cares if she likes them?! I did it!-

"Congratulations. You have mastered the art of baking."
Ikuko said as she plugged the sink and ran hot water.
"Now to clean the mess you made."

"Oh, I can do that. I've grown rather accustomed to hard
work. That's why I'm in this mess." He shook his head at
the gloves she offered and dipped his hands in the hot
water without a flinch. "Just right."

"So what exactly happened? If you don't mind my asking,
that is." Ikuko questioned him as she wiped her face free
of sugar and flours.

Mamoru sighed and as he picked up a bowl he thought
about how to word it right. He trusted Ikuko very much
and had often wondered through the day if this was
what his mother had been like. But he also knew of
someone who could be very quiet if they needed to be.
Someone he didn't want knowing his secrets.

The violet haired woman smiled as if she had heard his
thoughts and went to the stairs. "Usagi! Minako called
and wants to know if you would like to go to the mall!"

A blur of yellow hair, smiles, a twenty and some shoes
and Usagi was out of the house and miles away in
seconds. After the girl was gone Ikuko saw some of
the tension in Mamoru leave.

"Thanks. She.. well.. there are just some things in my
past that should remain there for now." He placed the
clean bowl in the drying rack and picked up a baking
sheet. "When I was a child I was homeschooled for
most of my life. Most of what I know I taught myself
through sheer will and solitude. The orphanage was a
hard life and many times I would choose to do work
like dishes and laundry rather than go to the park or
to the theater."

"I never got along with the others because I always was
different from them somehow. Most of them had never
even knew they had parents, let alone knew them. Some
couldn't even believe that it was required to have parents
to live. But I knew.. and I knew that I had knew my parents.
I knew they loved me, even if I didn't remember the time
with them."

Ikuko sat on a kitchen bench and gave him her full
attention as he washed the dishes and told her of his
life. "As soon as I was old enough I went in search of a
job. Unlike the others I was not content to just wait in
hopes that someone would come adopt me. I was fifteen
and in my second year of high school."

"I found a job in the Juuban district and so I decided to
claim adulthood and move close to my work. It would
have been too difficult to commute from the orphanage
after school. When I moved I had to switch schools and
entered the local high school. It was rather easy and I
got a small apartment and worked my way to graduation."

"Somehow I earned a scholarship and so the summer
before I began college I also began investing. Small at
first but eventually I was doing well enough that I could
live comfortably in my apartment without having to work
full time. It worked out well and was a nice arrangement.
That next school year I began college and everything was
fine until last week."

"And that's when you got the letter, right?" Ikuko asked as
she heard the sound of a car pulling into the driveway.

"Yes. Apparently when I switched schools no one told me
that my four year planner was not up to date. I needed
home ecinomics to graduate and they just let me go until
now. So here I am, cleaning up someone else's mistake."

The violet haired woman smiled at him and stood to hug
him. "Well, it's ok. You found someone to teach you so
that it doesn't interfere with your plans."

"Mrs. Tsukino, I would have stopped all of my plans just
to learn from you. You're a wonderful woman and a
brilliant cook." He dried his hands and welcomed her
hug. "Now I know where Usagi gets her generosity from."

Ikuko smiled at him. "You like her, don't you?" She smirked
as he fidgeted nervously and blushed.

"Yes ma'am. I couldn't lie to you. Just, don't tell her. I want
her to like me because she does, not because someone
put the idea in her head."

"I'm home!" A voice called from the doorway.

Ikuko walked into the entryway and kissed her husband.
"Welcome home. Kenji, I would like you to meet Chiba
Mamoru. He's the one who needed help with the cooking
class."

The man looked over the rim of his glasses at Mamoru
and smiled, holding out his hand. "It's a pleasure to
meet you. Isn't she the greatest cook in the world?"

Mamoru took his hand and nodded. "Yes sir. That she is."

***

"Daddy?"

Mamoru blinked out of his memory as he hear the tinkling
voice of his daughter. He looked down at her and smiled,
picking her up to hold her.

Usagi was sitting next to her mother's bed, holding her
hand and doing her best not to cry as loud as she could.
She turned to look at him and nodded as he pointed
towards the exit, mouthing that he was going to give her
some privacy.

Once he left she let the tears fall freely as she said
goodbye to the greatest woman in her life.

*****

Ami opened her eyes halfway and stared around at the
unusual and blurred surroundings. -Where am I?-

She tried to move but found that she couldn't get her
muscles to work right. -Ok Ami, it's just a little shock
from whatever happened. Try again.-

Straining to move she felt herself begin to cry as she
told her arm to move and felt her pinky barely lift off
the blanket. -Maybe if I call for someone they will come
and tell me why I can't move.-

Her joy was great as she found she could open her
mouth easily but when she tried to talk all that came
out were odd moans and funny squeaks. -I can't talk!-

A nurse came by and checked the IV machine and Ami
followed her with her eyes frantically. -Don't you
notice I'm awake?!-

The nurse walked away without even looking at her and
went into her office, closing the door before Ami could
make a sound.

*****

Darkness came and Mamoru forced everyone but Minako
to go home. "She's the only one who isn't going to fall
over at any moment. Makoto's the only one who needs
to be watched anymore. Go home, get some sleep."

Rei and Yuuichirou took their baby and left, followed by
Haruka and Michiru who carried the inflatable bed, coffee
machine, and playpen. Minako turned to Mamoru who held
a sleeping Chibi-Usa.

"Any word on Ami?"

"No. When I spoke to the police they wouldn't say anything
either. They suspect foul play, I can tell. Something tells
me they think Usagi has a stalker."

Minako gasped and her eyes went wide. "No! Who? Oh
forget it. You can't answer any of these questions. Are
you going to take her home tonight?"

"Yeah. She has to sleep and Chibi-Usa needs a bed. And
I have to make sure that the office will be closed down
for a few days."

"Because Ami can't work and you'll be watching Usagi."
He nodded and she sighed. "Well.. I guess there's
nothing we can do but watch our backs."
*****

Usagi entered the dim room and whispered a goodnight
to her friends and told them how Mamoru was forcing her
to go home and sleep.

Makoto and Minako smiled at her and told her he was
right and that she had to go. They watched her leave and
sighed.

"Well.. I'm beat. I'm going to get some sleep." Makoto
said as she turned slightly on her bed.

"Ok. I'm just going to read this magazine. Let me know if
the light is bothering you."

*****

Dark hospitals and the sound of the ICU were very creepy
things. Ami soon learned this.

The night shift nurse had fell asleep in the little office and
what little comfort was around came from a sliver of light
from the window in the door.

-I'm going to see that she's fired!- Ami said with anger as
she began counting the tiles on the ceiling.

When she reached fifty three she heard the door open and
tried to turn her head to see who it was. Her body wouldn't
cooperate but she soon saw a tall, lanky figure looming
above her.

-Who is it? I can't see!- Ami cried in her mind, knowing that
her cries only came out as squeaks. She watched the figure
hold up a syringe and test it.

Then she watched as they pushed it into the IV and injected
her with..whatever it was. Oh it burned! They were doing it
too fast! -Don't you know anything about injections?!-

At this point Ami was fairly sure it was the nurse. -She
wouldn't care.-

But as she watched the figure open the door to the office
she felt herself scream as she saw the sleeping nurse in her
chair.

*****
To be continued...