Crazy For You 8/9
By Lazuli [jupiterlightning@yahoo.com]
And Elysia [ely_chan@yahoo.com]
Rei backed out of the apartment, still too shocked to say anything. Her eyes were glued on Mamoru's form bent over Usagi, genuine worry on his handsome features. It was more emotion then she had ever seen from the man, and it almost scared her. What could this girl do to Mamoru that she couldn't? The door
closed behind her, and she walked away, lost in her thoughts.
Mamoru knelt by Usagi's trembling form. "What's wrong, Usa? Tell me... please... what's wrong?" She shook her head and bit her lip, trying not to scream again. Something that had been a part of her for four hundred years was damaged... and so was she. It felt like a thousand knives were stabbing her all over her body. She whimpered in pain and clenched on to Mamoru's shirt, her tears soaking it. He held her tight, not knowing what else to do.
She finally recovered enough to reach down and hold the bottle. "It's... hurt..." She said through gasps of pain, "So I am hurt..." The pain finally got the best of her and she fainted in Mamoru's arms.
When she awoke, she was staring into Mamoru's concerned blue eyes, and she wondered if she was dreaming again. She tried to sit up, but Mamoru pushed her down gently.
"I don't want you to hurt anymore. I'm going to have your bottle fixed so you will recover. Please just rest, Usa." Usagi blinked sleepily at him, then smiled, falling into dreams again, and dreamt of a life that was not her own anymore, a life that ended four hundred years ago.
She was 10 years old again, skipping about the front yard in front of her family's little cottage. The sun shone brightly, and the golden haired child played happily beneath her favorite willow tree, where the branches hung low enough for her to swing and hide in them.
"Usagi-chan!" an older woman called out from the doorway. "I need your help making supper, and your brothers are crying out for attention. Come inside!"
The little girl sighed. Being the oldest of three and the only girl sometimes had its bad points. She jumped off her handmade willow swing and ran towards, eager to help her mother, whom she loved more than anything in this world.
Then there was the time she turned 16. In her village, the age of 16 was also the age when a young maiden was old enough to have a marriage arranged for her. Usagi detested the whole idea of being married to someone she hardly knew, and no matter how much her mother and father tried to change her mind, Usagi refused.
Unfortunately, Usagi's family was one of the poorer families in the small village, and couldn't afford a reasonable dowry for her wedding, even if she had consented to the arrangement. So she went on, working hard to help provide for her family. She would marry only for love when the time was right.
Usagi was looking forward for the village's annual bazaar, where everyone brought their wares to sell to interested customers. Her specialties were her woven rugs. They were lightweight, but also water-resistant, because of the special type of woolen thread she used. Every year when she came to the bazaar, her rugs were a big success.
As the day passed, many people stopped and bought from her. One older gentleman bought 5 all at once, which surprised Usagi. No one had ever bought that many from her at one time! She couldn't wait to share her news with the rest of the family.
Some time later, the same gentleman returned, and asked to speak with her in private. Reluctant to leave her wares and go off with the stranger, Usagi stayed put and asked the gentleman what business he had with her. Little did she know that some of his henchman had come up behind her, and were ready to take her captive.
Without warning, they grabbed her arms and tied them behind her, allowing her no escape. They quickly shoved a rag in her mouth so she couldn't scream out for help. Usagi struggled against the henchman, hoping for a way to break free. Then something heavy connected with the back of her head, and as she fell into unconsciousness, it was at that moment she knew she would never see her family again.
Usagi shot up from the bed in a cold sweat, the pain still racking her body. She hadn't dreamt of her former life in so long, and the memories were so painful, almost as painful as the bottle cracking.
Her hands were shaking, and she hid them, lest Mamoru come in and see her like this. Her thoughts went back to when she was sixteen. Marriage...she never found anyone to love then. Now... her thoughts strayed to Mamoru. If only he had been there then... she would not have minded marrying him. Her eyes filled with tears. Would she ever be able to be with him?
A sudden noise made her look up as she saw Mamoru come in the bedroom, a smile on his face as he held out the bottle to her.
"I had the bottle restored for you, Usagi. I didn't want you to hurt anymore." His eyes were deep... serious... and filled with a concern that almost hurt. It couldn't be her imagination! She took the bottle carefully from Mamoru, and touched his hand carefully. She didn't understand it. Why?
"Mamoru-san... why are you not like any other master I've had? Why are you so different that it hurts? You are concerned about me, not your wishes. You didn't know that when the genie's bottle is damaged, so are her powers. You fixed the bottle because it caused me pain."
Tears were running down Usagi's face by this time. Mamoru stared in shock. Had Usagi's life been this bad over the years, that a simple act of kindness was cause for her to break into tears? Wondering what she did to deserve this kindness? He took her hands in his own and looked deeply into her tear-filled eyes.
"Usagi-chan... I care about you, not the wishes! Didn't I make that clear to you already? I don't care about the wishes! Not a bit! You may be a genie, but you are also a scared and lonely young woman, and I want to do everything in *my* power to make you happy, understand? I want to grant your wishes, not you to grant mine!" He finished with his tirade, and he noticed that Usagi was crying harder, but there was a smile on her face where there was once pain. She threw herself in his arms, clinging to him tightly. Mamoru's arms closed around her and they enjoyed each other's embrace.
The next day at the hospital, Mamoru found he was missing seeing Usagi. He almost wished she was there, just so he could see her everyday. He saw Dr. Hongo up front, and he grinned ruefully. He was back to his normal round of patients now that Usagi was gone, which he did not mind at all. Dr. Hongo smiled at him, and waved him over.
"Chiba-san... I would like you to meet our new volunteer here at the hospital. Her name is Tsuki Usagi," he said, gesturing, and Mamoru's heart nearly stopped at seeing a girl that looked like his Usagi in the uniform. He blinked once, and when she winked back at him, he knew it was her! What was she doing back here? He thought she never wanted to see this place again!! He shook his head, and took Usagi by the arm.
"I'll teach her everything, Hongo-san." He called over his shoulder, as he showed Usagi everything in the hospital that he was sure she knew inside-out from her escapades around the hospital last time.
Mamoru looked down in exasperation at Usagi. "Usa... tell me, *why* are you here?" When he saw her hurt look, he hastened on. "I didn't think you wanted to be here..." Usagi grinned up at him. "I have to keep an eye on you, Mamoru-san," she said.
"Keep an eye on me? Whatever for?"
She continued to grin. "From any other women who may have their eyes on you. You are my master, after all, and it is my duty to protect you from any evil advances."
Mamoru chuckled, and gave Usagi a quick hug. "I can always count on you for that. I think you're assigned to the pediatric ward today, You remember where that is?"
She nodded eagerly. "I promise that I'll do the best job I can." With that, she snapped her fingers and disappeared in a puff of purple smoke, throwing Mamoru off guard. He still wasn't used to her doing that. Continuing his way down the hall, he smiled and shook his head. That Usa was certainly something else.
By Lazuli [jupiterlightning@yahoo.com]
And Elysia [ely_chan@yahoo.com]
Rei backed out of the apartment, still too shocked to say anything. Her eyes were glued on Mamoru's form bent over Usagi, genuine worry on his handsome features. It was more emotion then she had ever seen from the man, and it almost scared her. What could this girl do to Mamoru that she couldn't? The door
closed behind her, and she walked away, lost in her thoughts.
Mamoru knelt by Usagi's trembling form. "What's wrong, Usa? Tell me... please... what's wrong?" She shook her head and bit her lip, trying not to scream again. Something that had been a part of her for four hundred years was damaged... and so was she. It felt like a thousand knives were stabbing her all over her body. She whimpered in pain and clenched on to Mamoru's shirt, her tears soaking it. He held her tight, not knowing what else to do.
She finally recovered enough to reach down and hold the bottle. "It's... hurt..." She said through gasps of pain, "So I am hurt..." The pain finally got the best of her and she fainted in Mamoru's arms.
When she awoke, she was staring into Mamoru's concerned blue eyes, and she wondered if she was dreaming again. She tried to sit up, but Mamoru pushed her down gently.
"I don't want you to hurt anymore. I'm going to have your bottle fixed so you will recover. Please just rest, Usa." Usagi blinked sleepily at him, then smiled, falling into dreams again, and dreamt of a life that was not her own anymore, a life that ended four hundred years ago.
She was 10 years old again, skipping about the front yard in front of her family's little cottage. The sun shone brightly, and the golden haired child played happily beneath her favorite willow tree, where the branches hung low enough for her to swing and hide in them.
"Usagi-chan!" an older woman called out from the doorway. "I need your help making supper, and your brothers are crying out for attention. Come inside!"
The little girl sighed. Being the oldest of three and the only girl sometimes had its bad points. She jumped off her handmade willow swing and ran towards, eager to help her mother, whom she loved more than anything in this world.
Then there was the time she turned 16. In her village, the age of 16 was also the age when a young maiden was old enough to have a marriage arranged for her. Usagi detested the whole idea of being married to someone she hardly knew, and no matter how much her mother and father tried to change her mind, Usagi refused.
Unfortunately, Usagi's family was one of the poorer families in the small village, and couldn't afford a reasonable dowry for her wedding, even if she had consented to the arrangement. So she went on, working hard to help provide for her family. She would marry only for love when the time was right.
Usagi was looking forward for the village's annual bazaar, where everyone brought their wares to sell to interested customers. Her specialties were her woven rugs. They were lightweight, but also water-resistant, because of the special type of woolen thread she used. Every year when she came to the bazaar, her rugs were a big success.
As the day passed, many people stopped and bought from her. One older gentleman bought 5 all at once, which surprised Usagi. No one had ever bought that many from her at one time! She couldn't wait to share her news with the rest of the family.
Some time later, the same gentleman returned, and asked to speak with her in private. Reluctant to leave her wares and go off with the stranger, Usagi stayed put and asked the gentleman what business he had with her. Little did she know that some of his henchman had come up behind her, and were ready to take her captive.
Without warning, they grabbed her arms and tied them behind her, allowing her no escape. They quickly shoved a rag in her mouth so she couldn't scream out for help. Usagi struggled against the henchman, hoping for a way to break free. Then something heavy connected with the back of her head, and as she fell into unconsciousness, it was at that moment she knew she would never see her family again.
Usagi shot up from the bed in a cold sweat, the pain still racking her body. She hadn't dreamt of her former life in so long, and the memories were so painful, almost as painful as the bottle cracking.
Her hands were shaking, and she hid them, lest Mamoru come in and see her like this. Her thoughts went back to when she was sixteen. Marriage...she never found anyone to love then. Now... her thoughts strayed to Mamoru. If only he had been there then... she would not have minded marrying him. Her eyes filled with tears. Would she ever be able to be with him?
A sudden noise made her look up as she saw Mamoru come in the bedroom, a smile on his face as he held out the bottle to her.
"I had the bottle restored for you, Usagi. I didn't want you to hurt anymore." His eyes were deep... serious... and filled with a concern that almost hurt. It couldn't be her imagination! She took the bottle carefully from Mamoru, and touched his hand carefully. She didn't understand it. Why?
"Mamoru-san... why are you not like any other master I've had? Why are you so different that it hurts? You are concerned about me, not your wishes. You didn't know that when the genie's bottle is damaged, so are her powers. You fixed the bottle because it caused me pain."
Tears were running down Usagi's face by this time. Mamoru stared in shock. Had Usagi's life been this bad over the years, that a simple act of kindness was cause for her to break into tears? Wondering what she did to deserve this kindness? He took her hands in his own and looked deeply into her tear-filled eyes.
"Usagi-chan... I care about you, not the wishes! Didn't I make that clear to you already? I don't care about the wishes! Not a bit! You may be a genie, but you are also a scared and lonely young woman, and I want to do everything in *my* power to make you happy, understand? I want to grant your wishes, not you to grant mine!" He finished with his tirade, and he noticed that Usagi was crying harder, but there was a smile on her face where there was once pain. She threw herself in his arms, clinging to him tightly. Mamoru's arms closed around her and they enjoyed each other's embrace.
The next day at the hospital, Mamoru found he was missing seeing Usagi. He almost wished she was there, just so he could see her everyday. He saw Dr. Hongo up front, and he grinned ruefully. He was back to his normal round of patients now that Usagi was gone, which he did not mind at all. Dr. Hongo smiled at him, and waved him over.
"Chiba-san... I would like you to meet our new volunteer here at the hospital. Her name is Tsuki Usagi," he said, gesturing, and Mamoru's heart nearly stopped at seeing a girl that looked like his Usagi in the uniform. He blinked once, and when she winked back at him, he knew it was her! What was she doing back here? He thought she never wanted to see this place again!! He shook his head, and took Usagi by the arm.
"I'll teach her everything, Hongo-san." He called over his shoulder, as he showed Usagi everything in the hospital that he was sure she knew inside-out from her escapades around the hospital last time.
Mamoru looked down in exasperation at Usagi. "Usa... tell me, *why* are you here?" When he saw her hurt look, he hastened on. "I didn't think you wanted to be here..." Usagi grinned up at him. "I have to keep an eye on you, Mamoru-san," she said.
"Keep an eye on me? Whatever for?"
She continued to grin. "From any other women who may have their eyes on you. You are my master, after all, and it is my duty to protect you from any evil advances."
Mamoru chuckled, and gave Usagi a quick hug. "I can always count on you for that. I think you're assigned to the pediatric ward today, You remember where that is?"
She nodded eagerly. "I promise that I'll do the best job I can." With that, she snapped her fingers and disappeared in a puff of purple smoke, throwing Mamoru off guard. He still wasn't used to her doing that. Continuing his way down the hall, he smiled and shook his head. That Usa was certainly something else.