I do not own Sailor Moon. Standard Disclaimers...I am so sick of writing these lol! Lata! Please r/r!!!



Falling Stars



Wake up...wake up Usa. Please wake up...

It was like a constant humming in Usagi's ears...her whole world was bathed in darkness. And there was nothing but that voice speaking to her, more like pleading already. It was just so quiet and peaceful and Usagi wanted to stay there forever. No more fighting, no more worries, nothing. All she had to do was sit in the quiet and rest. Rest forever...and ever. Forever. Was forever really that long? Didn't she think once that she and Mamoru would be together forever? That ended before the rise of the Black Moon Family, but luckily they were reunited. Or was it just luck that brought them back together rather than love and fate? What is this place? Who was she? Who is Tsukino Usagi?

Usagi...please. If you die then our fight will be for nothing. Usagi! We need you!

There it goes again, that voice. That insane, calling, pleading voice. They sound so sad...like they really need me. I wonder how Hinotama is. I wonder how all of my senshi are. What is our fight? To save people, to win or to lose? Who cares anymore...I have my peace now. I don't have to worry about anyone but myself.

You said you were selfish once...said you hated yourself for wanting out of your duties. Then you saw my life. Do you wish you never came here Usagi? Do you wish you were just a simple girl again with a simple life?

Shut up...I don't want to hear it. I am on my own again. Finally I am free from my job as Princess...I am finally free from my duties to save and protect, save and protect, save and protect. I can stop playing around and pretending like I'm happy. I can say to hell with the world and live a normal life. Wait a minute...how can I live a normal life...when I'm dead?

Usa-don't die!

*~*~*

Hinotama buried her face in the rought cotton sheets of her sister's hopsital cot. Her salty tears had soaked through the linen material, and the sorrowful drops now began to fall onto the motionless hand of Usagi. "Usa-don't die!" Hinotama cried harder, her eyes so tired and red-rimmed she looked on the verge of self destruction. "Please Usagi. Please don't die...I cannot lose you too!" Hinotama touched a hand to her sister's blood tinted cheek and shuddered with sadness. The blonde's hair was wild and everywhere, and the memory of her eyes staring blankly up at the sky haunted Hinotama. The brunette looked at her with sorrow, feeling guilt and anger well within her. Her copy had been right. This was all her fault.

A painful series of sobs racked through her body, until a strong, but warm and gentle hand came to rest on her shoulder. Just to feel the caring touch of another human being was soothing enough. "Hino," Jerrid whispered as he kneeled at her side. "You have to let her rest...there is nothing you can do-

"Stop it!" Hinotama screamed as she furiously slapped away his hands. His eyes lowered now and were full of guilt and sorrow at her rejection. "I can't leave her! My sister is going to die because of me!"

"That's not true," he insisted, trying hard to keep his voice soft and soothing. He raised his eyes to hers, willing her to understand and feel all that he did.

"I don't care! I have to stay here and watch her! I will not let her die!" Hinotama continued to scream, now completely hysterical. "She told me that I was the one who was responsible for the plague that has befallen this world...she said I would be responsible for Usagi's death. And she was right." Jerrid threw his arms around her shoulders and pulled her in tightly.

"Who told you this Hino! It's not true!" His hands had a firm grip on her shoulders and shook her hard. "You aren't like that!"

"I was alone...thinking and renewing my strengths and willpower. And a girl...me...a girl who was just like me in every way...a copy perhaps...she told me that I was the one who caused this world to be so dark. She said that I would pay the price for my selfishness and lose everything. And she told me that I would be the one to watch Usagi die." Hinotama pulled back and stared Jerrid in the eyes, her own filled with pure guilt and inner torment. "She was right. She was right..." Jerrid watched as she broke down to her lowest level of darkness and sorrow...her eyes spilled out an endless stream of tears as she collapsed beside Usagi's bed.

"Hinotama...it is not your fault. Usagi is strong and she'll pull through this!" But Jerrid's words were lost, or else the girl was just blocking out everything but the ragged breathing of her sister. Hinotama's hair was a mess, her face and body wrought with pain, anguish, and stress. Her mind was racked with emptiness, fear, doubt, hatred, rage, and guilt all aimed at herself. She had nothing to live for anymore. Her fearless, bright, and loving soul had been traded for that of one of pure emptiness.

Within a few moments, Jerrid watched as her body slowly began to calm; her sobs subsiding slowly. His amber eyes were wild and fearful, and he watched her from behind, her head rested on her arm against the cot as she cried endlessly. But her tears were silent now, and her body was quiet and peaceful. "Hinotama..." he whispered. Jerrid's voice was so ragged and hoarse he scared himself. "Hino-chan." She did not reply and Jerrid remained on his knees. He slid on the floor over to her side and Usagi's bed. The blonde girl's face was slightly stained with blood, her body covered with bandages, clothes, and she was full of IVs. Yet her face was inexpressive, except for the immense peace it portrayed...like a peaceful death. Only the continuous beeps of the heart monitor could assure him she had not died.

Jerrid finally came to rest on the floor beside Hinotama and gently pulled her away the cot and rested her head onto his lap. He smiled weakly at her. She was beautiful even in her misery. A thought came to mind, and the man carefully rested her head against his shoulder and lifted her into his arms. Her legs slung over his left arm, her body cradled in his strong embrace, and her head rested softly against his shoulder, Jerrid carried the girl away from the source of her misery and to the office. Upon his entrance, Cody was sitting up in bed. His eyes were visibly red, probably because he had been crying since the girls had been found.

Cody's expression was soft and hopeful. He sent his friend Jerrid a glance, that seemingly meant to ask how she was. Jerrid answered with his own expression that was bleak and sad. Cody knew things were bad...and very bad indeed. He placed Hinotama carefully on his own bottom bunk, resting her head gently on the feather pillow and fluffed it lightly. Pulling his softest and warmest blanket over her body, he kissed her forehead lightly. Allowing a shameful tear to slide down his cheek, he whispered, "I love you."

*~*~*

It was quiet then in the office and the room was dimly lit with a soft candle on the desk. The room was surprisingly warm and comfortable, and the cozy sheets of the bed were welcomed luxuries to the sorrowful Princess. Hinotama's Prussian eyes slid open slowly and her soul was quiet for a moment. Purposely blocking out the memories of just past events and mishaps concerning her sister, the 17 year-old monarch leaned up only to knock her head against the bunk above.

"Where am I?" her gentle whisper came. Hinotama flipped over to face the rest of the room, and didn't expect what she saw next. Jerrid was curled up uncomfortably on the hard stone floor, save for a small woolen blanket slung over his legs. His head rested against the crook of his elbow.

'I only remember being in the nurses station before, and then I must have fallen asleep. Did Jerrid bring me here?' Hino decided to save the technicalities for later. Right now, she must get to Usagi and make sure she was alright. 'Oh my god! My crystal!' But to her relief, it was bundled inside her coat on the office desk, swirling with colors as brightly as ever.

"You have to help me now," she whispered to it. "I am an emotional roller coaster right now...and I have to right the wrongs I have caused." Taking the coat into her hands, Hinotama cradled the crystal in the other and silently padded out of the room. That is, until she tripped over the leg of the desk in a loud clatter.

"Hino?" Jerrid's sleepy voice sounded from the floor as he sat up in a hurry. His vision took a moment to clear as he saw her form dart out of the room. "Hinotama! Get back here!"

'I can't let him catch me this time...I just have to find a way to help Usagi. That's all that matters!' Her hair flew wildly behind her as she ran, and every few seconds she looked over her shoulder to be sure he wasn't catching up.

"Hinotama!" Jerrid shouted down the hall, quickly gaining on her as they ran. His hair unruly and eyes full of uncertainty, Jerrid raced after her in his stained black pants and dark tee shirt. He could tell her physical condition was weak and strained, as she slowed on her own energy and nearly collapsed onto the floor by the nurses' station. He shot out a strong hand, and caught her by the arm before she slumped over. Her coat and crystal rolled onto the floor with a soft thud, and the man held her form against himself. "What are you trying to do? Get yourself killed?" He ran a nervous hand through her hair and held her close as they sunk to the floor. Hinotama buried her face into his chest and allowed herself to cry.

"I can't let her die," came her whisper. His arms wrapped around her side, and carefully her helped her stand on her feet. He lifted the two dropped items from the floor and held them as she slowly made her way into the room where Usagi was being held. Three nurses were working over her, prodding her body with IVs and injective fluids.

"Hino!" Usagi's desperate cry came.

"Usa?" Hinotama exclaimed, her eyes wide as she ripped from Jerrid's arms. She ran to the bed and knocked the audacious hands of the nurses away from her sister. Eyes blazing, she turned on them, "Stay the hell away from my sister." Her hair was fanned out behind her majestically, and her Prussian eyes burned in their many haunting hues. They bore holes through the souls of the onlookers as they flinched in fright. Both the nurses and Jerrid himself were shocked at her expression and statement combined with her offending stance.

"Hinotama-

"Jerrid! Leave us alone!" A deep tension fell over the room, and slowly, the other occupants left the room and the sisters to themselves. But as the man left, she could see deep hurt shining in his eyes. The Princess winced at her actions, but knew she did it for the best. Hinotama closed the door behind them and locked them out, still furious. Usagi was sitting up slightly, straining herself to even wiggle her fingers. "Usagi, stop it! You have to rest, it's a miracle you're alive!"

The blonde's eyes were wide and bewildered, but she complied and quieted down. Her hair spilled over the sides of the bed and Hinotama could see herself in her sister. Both had been and were in the same position, and Usagi had repayed Hino for once saving her life. Usagi forced a weak smile; yet no matter how forced, Hinotama could feel her genuine happiness radiating from her blue eyes. "Hinotama, I couldn't let you-

Hinotama hushed her and took her hand in hers. "Usagi please." The blonde girl shot her sister an annoyed look. It was followed by a sarcastic smirk and a fearless spark in her eyes. "Usa...why did you save me?"

Usagi's went wide and she spoke with fierce strength, "Because you're my sister baka!"





Hey everyone, that was the end for chapter 12! more to come soon! I'm really lovin this story, how about you? By the way, my alias has changed to ~*Meirou*~ from *~Lady Starlight~*. I love the name Meirou, it means bright/cheerful. I thought it was really pretty and it describes my personality for the most part. Please R & R! or no more story...lol j/k. But if you're a gracious reader, you'll write a nice little review! thanks!