Battered and Bruised, Chpt. 8
Well, surprise surprise, another chapter. Thank all those magnificent people who took out a minute of their lives to actually give me a review. You all deserve a cookie. As for those who haven't,...you guys deserve poison asparagus tasting cookies! Anyways, I actually got this next chapter within the week! Go me! I hope you enjoy.
Thank ye all great reviewers!
Onward!
Disclaimer: Yup, you guessed, still don't own Sailor Moon,...so I plea that as a consolation prize, everyone buys me a t-shirt! I ALSO don't own BMW, McDonalds, the white house, or area 51. But I wish I did. Anyways, as a small bit of comfort, I at least own this story. So be sympathetic to my small pathetic ownership, and let me keep it? Thank you.
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Its never easy to kick Rei out of a room that she doesn't want to be kicked out of. It took an unfortunately new nurse, with the requested help of two strong, middle aged, nurses, a doctor, and an EMT, who was on a coffee break, to "convince" Rei, to leave Makoto's room. When she was finally removed, she slowly slunk to a pay phone. As she picked up the receiver, she fumbled for some change, to which she gracefully dropped to the floor, along with the receiver since she was just all kinds of graceful at the moment. 'God damn it!' Rei, in a surge of anger, punched the pay phone and fell to her knees, next to her fallen change. Mesmerized by the dial tone of the receiver, which was hanging a few inches from her ear, she replayed her last conversation with Mako...
~And...fuzzy flashback wipe! (sorry, couldn't resist!)~
It had been a decent two hours of silence since Mina had left. But neither of them seemed to mind. They were basking in each others undemanding company. You'd expect that at least one of them were asleep, or near to it. However, the truth of it was, the two of them had dozens of troubling thoughts racing thru their heads, that they weren't in the least bit tired.
Makoto broke the silence. "Its over."
Rei slowly rose her head, and made eye contact with her friend. Her eyebrows were raised, and an inquisitive look ensued. Verbally addressing her confusion, wasn't necessary.
"We can't have those carefree days anymore," Makoto elaborated. "No more innocent giggles. Or full-hearted laughs. It's all different." She paused to read Rei's expression. It hadn't changed. "Usagi's dead."
Rei's inquisitive expression was wiped away with a wave of alarming concern. Makoto quickly continued, "She can never be our little odango-atma, anymore. She can no longer be our little Usako. She can no longer be our little clumsy block head, whose late to school every morning, and spends detentions with an innocently annoyed face,...ticking off the minutes before she can leave and eat pizza and drink shakes with her Mamo-chan at the arcades."
Rei's face began to resemble one of sympathy. But she didn't know how to respond. She didn't want to think about the future. She was worried with the present time. That's all she could worry about...what was happening now.
Makoto drew in a shaky breath and let it out in a frustrated huff. "That innocent smile of hers. That smile that reflects all the good in the world. The smile of a newborn child. She'll never smile like that again. She'll never have that carefree loving twinkle in her eye. Our Usagi is dead." Makoto was unable to keep a tear from escaping down her cheek. "And I couldn't save her."
Rei shook her head and looked her friend straight in the eye. "No. You did save her. You saved her life!"
Makoto looked away and rebutted, "I saved her life, but I didn't save her. I failed. I can't be the princess's guardian."
'Princess's guardian...' For once, Rei had forgotten. She had forgotten the negaverse, the battles, the youma, the death, the destruction, the responsibility, the fighting, everything that had ever been attached to her alternate, hidden life. She was 16, and her best friend was raped, and her other best friend had been beaten to near death. All of the responsibility of being a sailor senshi, of even being a priestess, of everything, had been pushed away so she could deal with her friends. In fewer words, Rei had been flooded with too much responsibility. She was drowning in her current life position. How could she handle it? No. It was too big. Too much. Rei couldn't even respond.
Makoto just went on, about her failure, about Usagi's death, but Rei just didn't hear it. She couldn't register anything. She couldn't even recognize the nurse coming in and sternly informing her, that it was past visiting hours and she needed to leave. Everything was just too
much.
~end of flashback~
Tears were trailing down her face when she realized where she was and the fact that she needed to call Yaten. She grabbed her change, and lifted herself up. She then hung up the receiver for a dial tone and called Yaten.
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Mamoru sat in silence in the row boat, staring at the empty seat in front of him. A clear image of his Usa-chan, smiling and staring at the water, haunted him. He could see her, right there, in front of her. Full of happy bubbly laughter. Right there. He could almost touch her, if only he were to reach out. The wisps of stray hair, blowing in the wind, just missed him. She was darting her head from the water to his eyes. Laughing when she met his gaze. She was right there.
Suddenly, a fish leaped from the water and landed with a splash. Mamoru's clear image of his Usagi, wisped away in the wind. 'Usako...'
The middle of the lake. They spent so many happy memories here. And now Mamoru sat alone, envisioning his loved one with hopes of traveling back in time. His Usagi, far away, in a hospital, struggling for her very life.
His head raced with concerns, regrets, memories, and the like. His mind was so occupied with these frantic commotions, that he physically, couldn't function. All he could do was stare as the buzz of a million thoughts raced through his head.
How come I didn't feel her? How is she? How could this happen? Why would? How could? I can't believe this happened to her! Someone touched her other than me. My Usa, someone else...
A sudden heated wave of jealousy surged through his veins. He stood in the boat and let out a maniacal scream of pain and torment. 'This just couldn't have happened. When will I wake up? When will I wake up?'
The wind rocked the boat gently, but suddenly, and Mamoru lost his balance and fell back into the rowboat. He couldn't function. So he sat. And thought.
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Ami sat in her room. To the world, she was buried in school work, as was the norm. Though she sat in the midst of books, papers, and other study materials, she had absolutely no work done, and nor was she attempting to even start it. The truth was, amongst all the books and notes, Ami found comfort. She was unable to concentrate on anything, but she felt the most comfortable amidst her studious environment.
Ami, in a word, was shocked. She had read countless amounts of books and articles on random acts of violence, such as rape and muggings, but she just couldn't let it sink in. She couldn't admit that it had happened. It happened to her best friends, and they were struggling for their lives in hospital beds because of it. The life of a sailor senshi had arrogantly shielded her from all of the real everyday dangers, to which, she sheepishly believed, they were immune.
Ami cursed herself for being so naive. She had said to herself, as she read the articles and books about such violence, that it could happen. She had duly noted, it was a danger. But it never had registered. She said it for the sake of saying it, never believing that it could really ever affect them. They battled the negaverse! That was all the danger that they were allowed to face. 'How could I have been so blind...'
She attentively ran her finger along her pencil. This action was completely subconscious, and she was unaware that she was doing it. It had become such a natural habit, that it was a routine stress reliever. Though, it wasn't irrational. People are comfortable amongst the familiar. Its a common fact.
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3:30, and all is well. Or at least, so it seems. The drowsy medical staff on late shift, glanced down the hallway to a serene scene. Thus, they yawned, and nodded off. These late shifts are murder...
Quietly, and slowly, the door to Makoto's room began to open. A head bobbed from inside, and looked down the hallway to see if there was anyone watching. 'They're all asleep.' With a satisfied grin, Makoto staggered softly from her room, to Usagi's, next door.
After quietly shutting the door, she slowly turned her head to the occupied bed where Usagi's comatose body lay. Carefully, she walked to her bedside. Wincing with each step, as her head registered a continuous shooting pain from her ribs. She didn't care, she needed to see Usagi.
Slowly she approached Usagi's side. Her delayed pace was more from fear, than pain. She wasn't sure if she could handle seeing Usagi like,...the way she was. Walking to her bed seemed to take forever. With each step, her heart skipped a dozen times. Each beat well defined in her head.
'Its not that bad. Its not that bad. Its not that bad. Its not that bad. Its not that bad.' Makoto endlessly chanted this as she came even closer to Usagi.
Finally she could see her. The moonlight from the window, shone brightly on Usagi's body. Makoto couldn't move. Usagi was dead.
This wasn't Usagi. There was no trace of happiness, laughter, innocence. There was merely a broken body spread out awkwardly on a bed. It hardly even resembled Usagi with all the injuries. This was not her Usagi! She didn't know who this was. She just didn't know anything. She couldn't think. She couldn't feel. Slowly, she fell back into a nearby chair, unable to remove her eyes from the tragic sight.
She stared until her eyelids gained a thousand pounds, and cooperated with the force of gravity, and fluttered down as makoto drifted into a dreamless sleep.
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The quickened pitter patter of running paws, left the temple and headed towards Minako's house. Artemis was frantic! It was almost 8 in the morning the next day, since Mina had left to visit Mako. She never came back to the temple, and Artemis was tired of waiting! 'Maybe she forgot to come back to the temple and went home.' Quickly he raced. Faster and faster. he couldn't bare to lose another senshi. More importantly, he couldn't bare to lose another respected friend.
A left at this street, a few more blocks, up this tree, from this branch to that, a brilliant somersault with a half twist, and perfectly executed landing, and Artemis was in Minako's room. He scanned the room.
The bed hadn't been slept in. Lights were off. No trace of Mina. With a disappointed frown, Artemis hopped on the bed. 'Where could she be?' With that thought, Artemis was disrupted by a cry for their mother. 'That sounds like Mina.'
The white cat hopped off the bed and followed the cry. It led him into the living room, where Mina was wrapped in blankets, settled in the living room couch. Minako cried again, "MOM!"
By the second scream, a drowsy figure hurried in. A caring mother sat by her daughters side, and stroke her golden hair. "What is it sweetie?" Artemis watched from the doorway.
Minako panted and then cried. "I,...I had a bad dream." Minako then, unable to speak, was overwhelmed by powerful sobs as she plunged herself into her mothers arms, who whispered comforting words and rubbed her daughters back.
Artemis noticed bandaging on Mina's arm, along with a hospital tag. 'Nina?' Artemis inched closer to the sofa, careful not to disturb either of them.
After a few minutes time, that it took for Minako to settle down. Her mother, in a gentle voice, whispered just barely audible enough for Artemis to make out, "Tell me about it, sweetie."
Minako took in some deep settling breaths and began, "Well, I dreamed that Usagi,...We,...got a phone call," Minako was staring at the coffee table, as if she was watching the entire dream replay in front of her, "Dr. Mizuno called, and said Usagi,...didn't make it." She began to have a sob attack, but took some deep breaths and calmed down before she continued, "Makoto came over, and she was so different. She was mad because we weren't there and didn't help to stop it. I should have been there, mom! And I wasn't! And Makoto couldn't laugh or cry anymore. She was like a machine." She buried herself into her mom's arms, and cried.
Her mother stroked her hair and said softly, "Oh honey, it was just a dream. Usagi's still alive. She's a strong girl, she'll come through. And I know that makoto doesn't blame you for not being there. You helped them. To be honest, I'm still unsure how you knew to be there, but I, and I know that the girls are too, we're all glad that you and Rei were there to get them to the hospital." Minako let out a sniffle and looked up at her mom, with tears streaming down her face. Her mom continued, "Mina, things are going to be different. This was a terrible, terrible thing, and it will change things. But you will all still be friends. Believe me, the five of you have the strongest friendship I have ever seen, and I know, down to the bottom of my heart, that you will make it through this. There will still be good times ahead. You just have to look forward to that, and believe in your friendship with your friends. It will be okay, sweetheart. It'll be okay." She gave Minako a big hug and stood up and left to the next room, saying she would be right back.
Artemis stared. Within the minute, her mother returned with a glass of water, and a prescription bottle.
"Here, Mina. The doctor said to take one of these in the morning, and another in the afternoon." She opened the bottle and poured a single pink pill into her palm, and gave it to her daughter. Minako, still crying, brought it to her lips, and swallowed it with the aid of the water that her mother had brought. Her mother smiled and touched Mina's shoulder.
As she stood up, taking Mina's finished water glass, she said, "Get some rest, hunny, you have an appointment today at 3." Then she left, leaving the prescription bottle behind on the table. Minako nodded.
'I'm not getting any sleep after that.' She thought to herself.
Artemis hopped on the coffee table, next to the bottle and read the label. Minako was staring at her arm, and didn't notice the movements of the white cat.
'Paxil...' Artemis gave Minako a concerned look. He cautiously jumped on her lap, determined to get some answers.
Minako jumped a little when Artemis jumped into her lap. She blankly stared at him, with puffy red eyes.
Artemis could tell he wasn't going to get anywhere beating around the bush, "What appointment?"
Minako turned her head to the side. Artemis got the impression that she wanted to disappear. 'Too bad, I'm not letting you get your way with this one, kiddo.' Artemis repeated the question, "What appointment?"
"Hospital."
"To see Makoto again?"
Minako shook her head.
"Then what for?"
Minako didn't answer. She didn't want to talk about this.
'Fine...' "What are you taking Paxil for?"
Minako's attitude was that of defiance, annoyance, and exhaustion. To reply to his answer, she pointed to her arm.
Artemis stared at the bandaging. "Take it off."
Minako turned her head to meet the kitty glare.
Artemis repeated, "Take it off."
Minako, about to refuse, caught a glimpse of a very determined glare. Reluctantly, she complied to his order. Slowly she removed the bandaging, to reveal three, very deep, crescent, moon-shaped, cuts. Artemis turned his head away in disgust.
"Put them back on." Minako did so, and turned her head away.
There was a long period of silence, as the two needed time to cool off and regain some sort of composure. Artemis spoke first, in a sympathetic voice.
"Minako, what happened is terrible. But it wasn't your fault."
Minako didn't move.
Artemis walked up closer to her, and put his front paws on her crossed arms. "Minako. You can't blame yourself. It wasn't your fault! And Makoto and Usagi are going to need you, so you need to take care of yourself. You're a sailor senshi!"
Minako flung Artemis from her arms. "Don't tell me about being a sailor senshi, Artemis! You don't go through being one! Do you know how many times I've held the dying bodies of my best friends?! Do you know how many times I have watched them die? Hell, I've died more than once, myself. And I remember it. I remember it, Artemis. This, this doesn't have anything to do with being a sailor senshi. You can't imagine what it was like for Usagi! You cant! She was raped! Artemis, she was raped! Raped! Raped! Raped! And she's dying right now! And I'm not even allowed to hold her. I'm not allowed to be there. I wasn't even there when it happened. Fuck being a sailor senshi!" With that said, Minako stood up, and walked out of the house.
Artemis would have normally followed her, but something in her eyes told him to leave her alone.
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AN: Well that's it for chapter 8. I hope you're enjoying the story so far. Lemme know how you feel. I'll try to get 9 up w/in the week. But no promises. Anyways,...review...BTW,...just to clear things up,..physically, USAGI IS NOT dead...Geze,...now no more death threats, alright? Gawd.
ON ANOTHER NOTE: I'm really sorry, but the next chapter will most likely be delayed,...a week? two? maybe more...Truth is, I have gobs of work, and I just got another -yes, another- job, and I've been sick for a week,...so make up's going to be a bitch...with a machete...anywho, Hope you can be patient! If not,...you have an imagination,...imagine what will happen next...=)
