Daydream Believer 6/6
Rated PG


Mamoru fell to his knees, shaking in disbelief. The papers he had been reading moments earlier were strewn about in disarray on the floor, rumpled and forgotten.

"It can't be true," he whispered forcefully, "this can't happen. It's just a rumor like those others, right? Tell me it's just a rumor, Motoki."

Motoki picked up the crumpled paper, smoothed it out, and read it slowly, finding it hard to believe what he saw. He took a deep breath. "This looks pretty real to me, Mamoru. If you still have doubts about it, you could always contact the person who wrote it to see where they got their information. I just hope for your sake that this last part is made up." A noise out front caught Motoki's attention. "I've got to get back to work, Mamoru. Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone," he finished and returned to the café.

Mamoru was still deep in shock even after Motoki left the room. He knew Serenity had been worried about the impending war and the chance it would affect her kingdom, but now that her life was really in danger, he felt helpless. To stand by in his own time and let it happen was out of the question.

Then it hit him like a ton of bricks. To his knowledge, the actual event hadn't happened yet, meaning he still had time. Mamoru bolted out of the back room, surprising Motoki and the other customers at the counter by his sudden entrance.

"Mamoru, where are you going?" his friend exclaimed, ready to run after him.

"I've still got time on my side! I have to do something about this while I can," he called over his shoulder as he ran out of the café.

He had to get to Serenity before it was too late.

****

"Mamoru, where are you off to in such a hurry?" a slightly familiar voice called out, causing him to stop. Turning around, at first he didn't know who it was until he closely at her face. "Rei? I can't stay and talk. I have something very important to do."

"Does it have to do with Serenity?" she asked softly. Mamoru's eyes widened. "How did you know?" Her eyes met his briefly and then she pulled her gaze away. "Last night after you left, I consulted the fire again and felt an incredible sense of dread come over me like something wrong was about to happen. Then the fire showed you running after someone."

Mamoru nodded grimly. "I found out something that may put her life in danger. I have to find a way to get to her in time and warn her."

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Rei responded, lightly laying a hand on his arm. She was really starting to worry for him. "I'd hate for you to get hurt as well."

He shook his head and stepped away from her, breaking her contact on him. "I have to do this alone, or else it won't work. Thank you for wanting to help anyway." He took off running again.

****

Mamoru tried his best to calm down enough to sleep. But to his dismay, he was still too much in shock to even think about sleep right now. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and finally began to relax.

He was doing this for Serenity now; his own concerns mattered little at this point. As he set his heart on seeing here again, Mamoru finally began to drift off, his last conscious thought was getting to her in time.

The sight that greeted him when he opened his eyes shocked him. The gardens that were normally vibrant and full of color now hung limply from their branches. Lilies that had once dotted the path now fell over lifelessly, thirsting for a single drop of water. Even the sky was dark and foreboding.

Making his way out of the neglected garden, Mamoru searched for any signs of life or more importantly, any signs of Serenity. His heart began to pound loudly in his chest as if he wouldn't make it to her in time. But as he saw a brief flash of white cross his line of sight that fear disappeared. He took off running after her. "Serenity!" Mamoru exclaimed, overjoyed to see her again.

Serenity stopped in her tracks and whirled around, tears coming to her eyes the moment she saw him. "Mamoru!" she cried out, running into his arms. She buried her face into his chest and he wrapped his arms tightly about her.

"You have no idea how glad I am to see you again," she murmured softly, while the tears that cascaded down her face fell onto Mamoru's shirt. "Mother is suspicious of everything now. I hardly have a moment to myself, even when I sleep. Things have been so tense lately. I don't know what to do any more."

Mamoru tightened his hold on her. "Serenity," he whispered into her hair, "I know our time together is short. I have something very important to tell you and you have to listen." Her eyes glistened with tears as she looked up at him expectantly.

"I know I don't know anything about what's really going on here with this war, but this much I do know. Your kingdom is going to be attacked and the other side will have no mercy. Please believe me, Serenity. I'm telling you this because I want to protect you. If anything were to happen to you, I'd go out of my mind." He buried his face in her hair. "I love you Serenity."

"Mamoru..." Her eyes widened. "I have to find my mother. She'll know what to do. She's the only one who can stop all of this now!" Serenity tore herself from Mamoru's grasp and sprinted down the hall. Mamoru reached out to pull her back but barely missed. He couldn't let her out of his sight, not when he just got her back. "Serenity!" he yelled, chasing after her.

Running after her proved to be a poor mistake, especially since Mamoru didn't know his way around. One hall led to another, finally leading him to a dead end. Three blank walls mocked him. "Kami-sama," Mamoru cried out in his heart, "please let me find her and protect her. Even if it means giving my own life, she has to survive."

Turning back the way he came, he ran past the windows facing the outer grounds, where he could see the devastation and destruction the pointless war had wreaked upon the kingdom. How could anyone hope to withstand such desolation, he didn't know. For those who did make it, hopefully it would be enough to strengthen them and help them begin again.

Suddenly a bloodcurdling scream ripped through the air, sending chills up Mamoru's spine. "Please, Kami-sama, don't let that be Serenity," he thought as he ran towards the palace gates.

When he reached the battered iron gates, his worst nightmare was confirmed. Serenity was hunched over in pain kneeling on the ground, her white dress smeared with streaks of mud.

"Serenity!" He yelled frantically, dropping to her side and cradling her in his arms. Her eyes were squinted shut with the pain, but as soon as she felt Mamoru's arms around her, her eyes cracked open.

"I guess I shouldn't have run off like that. But I have to find Mother. Will you help me look for her?"

Mamoru's grip tightened around her waist, but he quickly drew his hand back, shocked at what he saw. His hand was covered in a warm and sticky liquid. Blood that was not his own. "Serenity... you're bleeding!" He gently rolled her onto her side to examine her wound and to his horror a deep gash marred her side. He applied pressure on it to stop the bleeding, but it wouldn't stop. It flowed through his fingers and onto the ground, staining her white dress.

"I am? The only pain I feel is in my legs... I can't move them very well." Her eyelids began to flutter. "I feel so tired, Mamoru. I think if I just take a little nap, I'll be okay and then I can find my mother..."

"Snap out of it Serenity! Don't you dare go to sleep. I wish I could move you to a safer place, but it's too risky with your injury." Taking hold of the hem of her dress, he muttered, "Forgive me," and ripped the cloth apart so he could make a compress. She didn't seem to notice as Mamoru pressed the fabric to the wound, trying to stop the bleeding. "Kuso," he swore under his breath, "I'm a doctor for heaven's sake. If she... I'll never forgive myself."

The gentle touch of Serenity's hand on his face broke his train of thought. "Mamoru, don't blame yourself for any of this. There was nothing you could do to stop it." The look in her eyes suddenly took on a new light and she brought a hand up to his face. "Before you say another word, I want you to know how much you mean to me, Mamoru. These dreams of yours have been a godsend to me. I've been so much happier knowing you."

"Serenity, please don't talk like this. You're going to be fine. I think I've got it under control now. Another few minutes and I'll be able to get you out of here," his voice cracked as he finished.

Struggling to sit up, Serenity gasped at the pain that shot through her side. She gazed up into his eyes and smiled tenderly at him. "Mamoru, don't worry about me. I can sense your pain. I know you'd do anything not to lose what we have. I promise you everything will be all right. I will always be with you, Mamoru. Always." Her hand suddenly dropped back down to her side and her breathing slowed.

Mamoru's breath caught. "Serenity... no, please don't do this to me, my love. I need you. Stay with me, don't let go just yet. Please..."

"I love you Mamoru," she sighed, and then her eyelids fluttered shut over her blue eyes one last time. Tears sprang to his eyes and he took her chilled hand in his. "No, Serenity... wake up, open your eyes, look at me... please... Serenity... no..." he whispered, "NO!"

Sobbing, he embraced her limp body against his, praying with all his might that the gods would intervene, anything to bring her back to him. After all he had done to prevent this very thing from happening, it wasn't enough. In his race against fate he had lost.

Reluctantly Mamoru pulled himself away from Serenity, wishing he could hear her laughter just once more. But now all he had left was his real world, the dark dreariness of reality that awaited him. He wanted to forget all that he had seen here today. If there was one thing that haunted him from this world, he wanted it to be his cherished memories of Serenity.

He let the faint golden light envelop him willingly, removing his existence from the devastated land for the last time.

****

Knocking on Mamoru's door, Motoki turned the handle slowly, entering his friend's dim apartment. He turned to his companion and motioned for her to wait at the door until the time was right.

This scene was all too familiar to the sandy-haired man. He only hoped he wouldn't find Mamoru in the same condition as last time. Checking all over the apartment, Motoki finally found him out on the balcony, staring intently at the moon rising over the city.

"I haven't seen you for the last couple of days, Mamoru, so I came to check up on you. I know this must be very hard on you..."

"Do you? Do you really know Motoki?" Mamoru interrupted softly, tightening his grip on the railing. "You weren't there, you didn't see all the death and devastation. You didn't hold your only love in your arms as she died a painful death. You didn't have to leave her there, vulnerable to every element around her. I was this close to saving her from all that. But I didn't make it in time. In fact, I caused her to die before her time. Tell me you've dealt with that before."

Motoki sighed. "You're right, Mamoru. I don't understand what you've been through it all. So all I can do is listen if you're willing to open up." He glanced back towards the open door of the apartment and made a slight motion with his hand. "I know this may not be the best time, but I brought someone else with me to help cheer you up. She's in the other room."

He groaned softly. "Motoki, how could you bring someone here at a time like this? I'm in no mood for visitors, especially female ones. Can't you tell her to come back another time?" Mamoru protested as Motoki dragged him back into the other room. "Please, I don't want to--" He stopped short.

A simple smile graced her lips, lighting up the rest of her face. Blue eyes danced with laughter and she clasped her hands behind her back. Mamoru's gaze lingered on her hairstyle most of all. Two long golden streams were tied on both sides of her head, wrapped into two buns at the top.

His heart pounded loudly in his chest. 'Serenity?' he mouthed softly. Her eyes sparkled and her grin grew a little wider as she stared back at him. "I'm Tsukino Usagi. Motoki-onii-san told me a little bit about your problem, and I thought I could help. Strangely enough, I've been having some really odd dreams of my own."

Mamoru stepped forward and took Usagi's hand in his. So similar... was it even remotely possible? "Chiba Mamoru. I'm... happy to meet you, Usagi," he replied, not taking his eyes off her.

"She's been coming to the arcade as long as I can remember," Motoki explained, "and when she heard that you were feeling down, she offered to come and cheer you up. I couldn't tell her no, now could I?" When neither of them replied, Motoki finally realized he was being ignored. He left the apartment unaware he had played a major part against fate.