Battered and Bruised, Chapter 11

Okay, things are getting interesting now, aren't they? Well, looks like I have more time to write the next chapter, so here I go.

Disclaimer: is it really necessary to keep doing this? I think not...

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Minako studied the so called "psychiatrist" that sat across from her in the small room. He was not what she expected at all. She expected an old man in his fifties, wearing thick glasses, a professional wool suit, who spoke with a british accent. What she got, was a man, dressed in black slacks, and a black cotton shirt, with a head of thick dark hair, maybe in his late twenties, wearing a gold chain around both his neck and wrist. He looked something like a cheesy underground pimp, to Minako. But she shrugged it off, his look amused her slightly, and maybe it would be easier to talk to a "drug lord" then an overeducated principal.

The room was small, filled with big snug chairs, and a couch. The room was on the darker side, only lit by the sunlight which shone through the window. Minako sat on the couch, cross legged, while the psychiatrist pulled a chair up to the couch, facing her. Minako looked down at her twiddling thumbs, and waited for him to speak.

He began with introductions, and insisted that she call him Mark. She nodded her head, but would try to avoid addressing him at all. She only intended to answer whatever questions he had for her, and nothing more. Deep down, she believed that no one could solve her problems, let alone some 20 year old, "hip" psychiatrist. After the introduction, she noticed that he did not have a writing pad, or even a tape recorder. She expected him to have some sort of device to make notes, like she had seen in the movies, but he did not. Instead, he sat at the edge of his seat, staring deep into her averted gaze, clearly giving her his full attention. In a way, it was nice to have the full attention, but for the most part, it made her more uncomfortable. She didn't want that much attention at the moment, contrary to her usual behavior.

Realizing that Minako was not going to be the first to speak, Mark cleared his throat and began, "So its my understanding that those wounds on your arm, were your own doing. Is that correct?"

Minako continued to stare at her hands. She really didn't want to talk about it, but she knew that that was what she was there to talk about. She had intended to avoid the subject, and answer only specific questions. But thinking about it a little more, she realized that it would just take longer, and he would ask more and more questions. She decided that maybe she should just drop the act and comply. Maybe this could help. Its all confidential, right?

Minako nodded.

Mark smiled a little, grateful for the compliance. He knew how defensive people could get, and he was glad that Minako didn't seem to put up that much of a wall. "You know, Minako, you're not alone in this. Thousands of people hurt themselves. It doesn't make them crazy at all. Do you know why most people do it?"

Minako shook her head, no.

"Well," Mark began as if it were a typical conversation, "it's actually a way that a lot of people chose to cope. Some people chose to cope through alcohol, others through smoking, and then other people just do it by hurting themselves. They just need the release, and this is the best way for them to do it. Its really a shame that society has such negative emotions towards it, its just that they don't understand it, is all. All we need to do, is work on a different way for you to cope with your emotions."

Minako felt a little better. In truth, she really didn't know why she had done that to her arm. Coping made a lot of sense, and she felt a little better that Mark hadn't written her off as a crazy, like she expected. She smiled slightly, and Mark picked up on it, and she picked up on him picking up on it, and stopped.

Mark continued, "I've been told that a terrible incident has happened to you just recently. Would you mind telling me about it?"

Minako took a quick glance at him, who was still at the edge of his seat looking inquisitive, and then back at her hand. She wondered exactly WHO he had been talking to, but then realized that it was probably either her mom, or one of the doctors. This was the same hospital after all. She sighed, and in a low voice she corrected, "Not me. A terrible incident happened to my FRIENDS, not me."

"Well its affecting YOU, nonetheless. Why don't you tell me what happened? Get it off your chest. I can guarantee it won't solve your problems, but it may help."

A tear trailed down her cheek and she began to explain, in full, with added detail, what had happened to Usagi and Makoto. She had explained, with vivid accuracy, the sight that she had been subjected to in the alley. The blood, the deathly faces. She talked about what had gone through her mind as she was racing to the hospital, carrying Makoto on her back. How she felt, carrying Makoto's frail, broken, and defeated body, when she had always known her to be so strong, a warrior, and undefeated. How everything had happened because of one jack ass who couldn't control his hormones, just had to defile her innocent, bubbly friend.

She had come close to revealing their secret identities as the sailor senshi, but had quickly caught herself before she mentioned anything. The whole time, Mark listened intently on the whole story, without interrupting at any point. When Minako had finished, Mark sat back in his chair, and crossed his leg. He looked upward, in a sort of thinking pose, and then to Minako, who had began to cry.

"Well, these things do happen, every day, Minako. Its not something that we can control. Bad things happen to good people, you must have heard that before. I know that it doesn't help to hear that. But your going to have to accept what happened, and be thankful that you were able to get them to the hospital before they both died in the alley way. Minako, you saved your friends lives. Saved them. They could be dead. Now, because of you, they have more time for more moments of laughter, joy, and happiness. I won't lie to you, there will be moments of sadness and trials ahead of you. But there always are. And yes, you will all be taunted by these memories, they are horrible horrible memories, but you can't let yourself be defeated by them. Now, they are only memories. You cannot change them. You can, however, change how you react to them, how you deal with them. 'What doesn't kill us, only makes us stronger.' I'm sure you've heard that too. Its true, you know? As long as you're willing to accept it."

Minako took in a shaky breath and said as she sobbed,"But I should have been there! I should have been there earlier! I should have stopped it!"

"There was no way that you could have known it was going to happen. Its not your fault for not being there, Minako."

"I should have been more help."

"Should have been? Lets get a few things straight here. First off, you and your friend Rei, SAVED their lives. Second, there was no way of knowing that it was going to happen, let alone when. You really should be glad that you and Rei were there to get them help. Nextly, I can guarantee that they are going to need FAR more help. They are going to need their friends. They are going to need YOU. Especially your friend Usagi. I have treated rape victims, and its not a very easy thing for them, or their friends, to deal with. You will all need to be there for each other."

Minako gave a small smile.

Mark looked over at the clock that was hanging on the wall, and grimaced. "I'm sorry Minako. But it seems that our time is up for today." Mark extended his hand for a handshake, and Minako accepted his gesture. "I hope this has helped a little, and I look forward to Thursday. You will be here won't you? The same time as today."

Minako nodded her head. She then looked into his eyes and thanked him, before turning around and heading out the door. She turned around a final time to wave goodbye, and then left the room.

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As the elevator door opened, a floor before her destination to load extra passengers, Minako dried her eyes. It did feel a little better getting some of her feelings out.

She was a little startled as a young man had greeted her specifically. She noticed how handsome he was, and blushed at the attention. Then, as she looked at his face again, she felt a sense of familiarity. 'I know him...'

"How are you? Feeling any better?" The young man said, as he brushed a lock of chestnut hair, out of his eye.

"Excuse me? Any better?"

"Yea! Don't you remember?" He gestured at her arm, "I was there, in the hallway, you tripped on the vacuum cleaner I was cleaning with! Im Joe!"

'Joe,...that sounds familiar...he looks familiar too...' Minako looked down at the ground, trying to recall who he was. Obviously his was there in the hospital that day she visited Makoto. But,..."I'm really sorry, I was really out of it that day, I don't really remember you." You have to commend her for her honesty!

Joe smiled a brilliant smile, "Yeah, I noticed." The elevator door opened, and the two of them walked out of the small box, and into the lobby. They both stepped to the side of the elevator doors, and stood staring at each other. Joe smiled again and looked out towards the entrance before saying, "Hey, hows about you and me go grab some lunch? We can talk about anything you like, I'll buy."

Minako blushed. She wasn't really in the mood for lunch, but his company sounded tempting. After all, he was buying...

Minako nodded her head, and Joe offered her his hand. She grabbed it, and he lead her out of the hospital, into the parking lot, and to his car.

Minako hesitated and looked around a little fidgety. Joe looked at her, and then his car. 'Idiot...' "Oh, we can walk if you like, just let me put my coat in the back seat." Minako smiled back in relief. She really didn't feel like taking any joy rides with strangers,...especially MALE strangers...

After Joe put his coat in the back seat, like he said he was, he locked his car, and hooked his keys to his belt loop. Then he grabbed Minako's hand gently and the two of them began to walk to the nearest cafe.

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Ami was laying on her stomach on her bed, with her face buried in the pillow. She was excited to hear that Usagi had finally woken up, and had begged her mother to go with her to see her. But her mom refused to let her go. Ami understood why she wasn't allowed to go, but had hoped that her mother would disregard the rules and let her visit her friend. Especially since Makoto had run away. Everything was just unraveling so quickly. She barely had enough time to think about one thing, before another thing had began to fall apart. Why did it even have to happen at all?

She had felt so left out of everything. She was afraid of not being enough help to her friends, but more deeply, she was afraid of being forgotten, of being alone. She wasn't there when Usagi was being raped. She wasn't there to help bring Makoto and Usagi to the hospital. She hadn't even had a chance to talk to Makoto before she ran away. She was fading into the background, just another memory, or at least, so she thought.

She continued to sulk into the pillow until she was interrupted by a tapping sound from her window. 'Who could that be...?' She lazily brought herself to a sitting position, as she glanced at her window. She saw something hit her window, and she logically concluded that it was a pebble. She rose to her feet and opened the window. She allowed herself a few seconds, to let her eyes adjust to the night's darkness, before she looked down to see Taiki.

"Ami!" Taiki shouted from cuffed hands.

Ami popped her head out the window, and replied, "Taiki? What's wrong?"

"Get down here! I want to talk!"

Ami was a little more than surprised. Why was Taiki, of all people, here? What did he want to talk about? And why did he want to talk to her? She quickly put a coat over pajamas, and put on slippers, before she left the house to meet Taiki, underneath her window.

"Alright, I'm here. What do you want to talk about?"

Taiki looked at the ground, and then out into the abandoned street. "Lets walk."

Ami nodded, and the two of them left began to walk into the lonely street.

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Makoto had fallen asleep, shivering in the alleyway. Rei was the first to arrive, but only by a few seconds before Tuxedo Kamen had appeared from the sky.

"Mamoru?"

"Rei?" They both exclaimed in unison.

Rei scanned the area and rested her gaze on Makoto. As she walked to her friend, she said softly to the caped the man, "So you felt it too?"

"Hai." Tuxedo Kamen, realizing that there was no imminent danger, transformed back into his regular form as Mamoru, in the jeans, black shirt, and green blazer. Then he kneeled next to Makoto.

"What is she doing out of the hospital?" Mamoru asked.

"She ran away. Dr. Mizuno called me about it earlier today." Rei let out a sigh before she continued, "This is so typical of Makoto."

"Well, before we do anything else, lets get her out of here."

Rei agreed, and Mamoru gently lifted Makoto's battered body.

"Lets take her to my place." Mamoru suggested and then ran off into the night.

Rei hesitated for a second to re-scan the alleyway. Satisfied that there was nothing else around, she followed Mamoru into the night.

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AN: (Sept. 18, 2013) Oh my goodness,...so I got this review notification and apparently I really upset someone for not continuing with this story for 10+ years…..I'm so sorry! Life kind of got in the way, I don't remember where I was going with this and I certainly don't remember all the japanese names and characters! Obviously I'm in a COMPLETELY different place in life now….I actually do want to finish this. I had a few ideas when I was fixing the spelling errors but I'm going to have to re-read this and re-familiarize myself with the characters and everything,...so to be honest that won't be for quite awhile. Finishing this story is now high on my bucket-list, and I'm hoping to get back to it within 5-6 years. (Sorry, I have to prioritize my career and financial situation over this now…..) I am really glad that people still read this. When I do get back to it I can promise it's going to be interesting! (The beginning written by a child and ended by the adult that child grew up to be….lol so weird!) Thank you everyone - please continue to read anything and everything! (and until the day I actually get back to this, just let your imaginations run wild!) :D