Farewell in Heaven
This is the second chapter you're about to read. The genre does not change… but in this chapter, it'll lighten up a bit. I just hope no body hates me for using Usagi and Mamuro in an angst fic… I'm merely expressing my thoughts and feelings. =) Reviews please!
BASIS: TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE
Disclaimer: This is a fanfiction. I do not guarantee that all that is written here is a fact.
Chapter Two: Dreadful Reality (Usagi's POV)
It was Saturday night. Prom was an hour from now. It sucked being alone at my apartment so I decided to take a walk.
The park was empty and the lamps were already on. The cold February wind rushed through my face as I decided to take a seat on one of the benches. I rubbed my hands eager to get some heat and brushed away a few strands of hair that has fallen on my face.
I smiled as I thought of my 18th birthday coming just around the corner. I didn't intend to plan a party though. I just didn't felt like celebrating.
Looking back on how I was a few days back, bulgy eyes and runny nose, I guess I had become stronger indeed.
I breathed in the cold night air and decided to make my way back home.
The door of my apartment soon came into view. I reached for the key on my small pouch and headed for the door.
To my surprise, I saw the door standing ajar.
I quietly entered the room hoping that there was no one inside.
I twitched as an uncanny hand tapped my shoulder.
"What's wrong with you?" A familiar voice said.
I looked back and I saw Rei wearing her prom dress.
"Damn! You scared me! Why are you here and how on earth did you opened the door?" I said, panting.
"Well, I decided not to go to the prom and…" She paused as she handed me a key.
"You gave me an extra key remember?" She smirked at me and went further inside the room.
"Why did you decide not to go to the prom? Hello? For a fact, you were invited by Seiya, the hottest guy at school." I raised an eyebrow and crossed my arms in front of me.
"Hmm… enough questioning…I really don't care if I was about to miss a prom date with the hottest guy in school. Let's just say I did this for my best friend." She smiled and sat down at the couch.
"Oh Rei! You're strange as ever."
We spent the whole night together dancing and laughing, pretending to be at the prom.
"It's really getting late. I have to go." She stood up and straitened up her gown.
I giggled. "Sure. See you around!" I led her to the door.
"Ja!" She said and opened the door.
"Thanks for the wonderful time. Take care… Oh Seiya, what are you doing here?"
Seiya was standing at the doorstep with his hand positioned as if he was just about to knock.
"Hi Usagi, Uhm… I went to pick up Rei… She cancelled our date and told me that she'll be at your house. I went to the prom but did not really have fun." A slight blush covered his face.
"I guess your night isn't over, Rei" I pushed her beside Seiya and bade goodnight.
"Hope you don't mind." I heard Seiya said as I closed the door.
What a night, I thought. I'm glad Rei's having luck at her love life.
=====
Kring Kring Kring Kring The phone rang, waking me up from my sleep.
"Hello?" I said groggily.
"Hi Usagi! Happy Birthday!"
"Rei?! Its twelve am! You could have just greeted me later."
"I wanted to be the first one to greet you…sorry if I woke you up. Hmm… I'll pick you up later at around three in the afternoon. Let's go shopping ok. Bye!" She dropped the phone before I can say goodbye.
I continued my trailed of sleep.
^^^
Tok tok.
That must be Rei. I thought as I added the last bit of makeup to my face.
"Coming!" I dropped the lip-gloss and ran to the door.
"Ready?" Rei asked.
"Yep! Let's go!" I made sure I locked the door and joined her.
At the mall, I tripped inexplicably causing my shopping bags to scatter.
"Are you alright?" Rei asked, helping me gather my bags together.
"Yup! This is just my usual clumsiness I guess." I smiled and headed for more shops.
Finally, our spree ended. I got a new top and a new pair of shoes. Rei bought a new purse and a new dress for yet another date with Seiya. We ate a snack at the Crown Restaurant and spent the rest of the afternoon eating ice-cream at the park. We went back at the apartment at around six pm.
As we made our way to the elevator, I could not help but notice Rei's constant smiling.
She, then caught me staring at her wordlessly.
"What?" She asked.
"You seem so exited. Would you mind telling me the reason why?"
"I'm just happy that's all." She grinned deviously.
I raised a silent question on my mind as to if Rei was planning something fishy. She seemed so weird today.
She hummed a happy tune as we reached the floor where my apartment was.
I reached for the key and unlocked the door as she suspiciously tapped her feet consecutively.
I switched on the lights and to my surprise, confetti started falling down and Seiya came to welcome us with a small cake in his hands.
"Surprise!" Rei bellowed.
"Why…how…" I was too surprised to talk.
"Happy Birthday Usagi" Seiya said.
"Do you like your gift?" I heard Rei asked.
"Thank you Rei! Just one question though…how did Seiya know what today was?"
"Well, you see, this is a part of your surprise..." She moved next to Seiya.
"…were sort of a couple already."
"You? Since when?"
"Before we tell you all the details, would you mind blowing the candle already? I'm kind of tired holding the cake." Seiya smirked.
I laughed and went near them to blow off the candle.
"There…" Seiya said as he placed the cake on the table.
He went beside Rei and held her hand. "Do you remember when I picked up Rei here? That night I told her what she really meant to me and that started it all. I wanted to tell you sooner but Rei insisted we tell you the news on your birthday."
"We planned this surprise party for you. I knew you weren't in the mood for celebrating but I thought a small party with just the three of us would be nice to make you forget your depression." Rei stated.
"Thanks guys!" I hugged them both.
The party ended as we ate the last batch of cake.
"Are you happy?" Rei asked.
"Yup! I'm satiated. It's a nine out of ten party." I quickly answered.
"What's with the one point difference?" Seiya asked politely.
"My boyfriend…" My buoyant smile slowly turned into a frown.
"Sorry. I must have said something wrong."
"Well, you see, Usagi has this boyfriend who moved to America to study. He never called or wrote ever since." Rei groaned.
I smiled. "Look at me. It's my birthday but I'm frowning. Don't worry. I'm ok. All you two must worry about is your relationship."
I saw them both flush.
"It's really getting late. Let's clean up already." I suggested.
I swept the floor, Rei washed the dishes and Seiya put out the trash.
"There, everything's spic and span again! I guess we'd better go. In case you haven't noticed, it's eleven thirty in the evening already." Rei said as she placed the last plate on the dish rack.
"I guess so too. I'll go along with you up to the front door of the building. We'd have to use the stairs because the elevator stops working at ten pm." I offered.
We went out of the apartment and made our way down the stairs. We only had to climb two floors down but my feet were getting tired. As the last, few steps came into view, my feet stopped moving and I felt my body stumble. The last things I heard were Seiya's and Rei's screams.
I landed headfirst on the first floor. I sat up but then felt a constricting pain in my head making me shudder.
"Usagi, are you alright? What happened to you? Seiya can you carry her back to the apartment?" Rei said in a concerned tone.
"Sure," Seiya replied.
Gently, I felt my body carried up to my apartment.
Seiya laid my body slowly on my bed and then positioned himself next to Rei.
"You tripped unexplainably at the mall too. I think you should go and have yourself checked." Rei advised.
"I do not mind driving you off to the hospital tomorrow." Seiya spoke softly.
I nodded in acceptance.
"I'll spending the night her to make sure she's fine." Rei sat warily next to me.
"Ok. See you tomorrow. I'll be here early tomorrow so I can help you prepare." Seiya kissed Rei and smiled at me then left.
I slept soundly with Rei beside me.
She woke me up around eight am telling me Seiya was to pick us up at nine. She made a reservation at the hospital and assisted me getting ready.
Seiya came on time. He and Rei both settled me in the car. We drove to the hospital and waited for my turn.
"Tsukino…" We heard my name finally announced. A nurse came and showed us the way to the clinic.
We three entered the cozy room and sited ourselves on the seats available.
A young woman came in.
"Hi, I'm Dr. Mizuno. Who is Usagi Tsukino? I believe you called for a check up. " She smiled and sat on her chair.
"I am," I said.
"What seems to be the problem?" She asked.
"Well," Rei began "She has been stumbling down inexplicably lately. Just last night she fell down the stairs."
"I see. This is a weird case, I presume. I'd have to take some tests. Let's move to the testing room," Dr. Mizuno gestured us to go with her.
*
Every week I was tested. First, Dr. Mizuno tested my blood. Then she tested my urine. When nothing could be found, she ordered a muscle biopsy, taking a small piece out of my calf. The reports came back suggesting a neurological problem, and I was again brought in for another series of tests. In one of those tests, they let me sat on a special seat and zapped me with electrical current and studied my neurological responses.
Dr. Mizuno has always handled me with care. Finally, after two months testing, I together with Rei and Seiya went to the hospital again. We were asked to sit down before Dr. Mizuno broke the news.
"You have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). It's a brutal, remorseless disorder of the neurological system. No body knew the source of this terrible ailment and I'm very sorry to say that there is no known cure. Usually, the symptoms do not develop until after the age 50 but yours is quite unique. Your depression might be the cause of this."
I saw Rei tremble with shock as she heard the news. Seiya rubbed her back constantly trying to give comfort. But who was to comfort me?
"Is it terminal?" I asked.
Silence
Tears were now forming around my eyes.
"Yes. It is. Your schooling should be stopped to ease the disease temporarily. I'm really sorry."
Tears began to fall from my eyes. I was going to die. I never knew that small symptoms such as falling down the stairs would result to this brutal disease.
We left the hospital with out saying a word. My world stopped turning. Everything came falling down on me…
Our drive seemed so long. Usually Seiya would turn on the car radio very loud and we'd sing familiar tunes at the top of our lungs but now, it wasn't even on…
We arrive at my apartment still silent. I went to sit at the couch next to the phone.
"Should I call him?" I asked Rei.
She sniffed and replied, "He deserves to know…"
Rei went beside me as I dialed Mamuro's number.
-=-=-=-
That's the end of the 2nd installment…reviews please! =)
By the way, I got the disease info in the book I read… Tuesdays with Morrie… =) =)
Preview of the next chapter: It's Mamuro's POV. How has he been doing in America? That's about it. =)
I can only express myself with my pen and on the stories I write…. I've always been alone… alone in my own dream world… happiness… but when I wake up in reality I see only pain… The light I once had disappeared…altered by an endless darkness… still waiting… still wanting someone to light me back again…