Disclaimers and author's notes are at the end of chapter three.
Sleeper
By: Masked Maiden
Chapter Three: Crossing Borders
"What do you mean don't tell them?!"
Tenoh Haruka's sudden outburst was, to say the very least, expected.
She banged her fist on the kitchen table and started ranting, her
language changing from somewhat offensive to exceedingly vulgar with
every syllable spoken. Michiru caressed her lover's arm and looked up
at her, urging her to sit beside her and calm down.
"Calm down!?" Haruka snapped. "How am I supposed to calm down?
Setsuna here is telling us that they have no right to know about the
Great Freeze! And that to me is a bunch of bull--"
"Haruka..." Michiru glared at her with cold, stabbing eyes. "Sit down,"
she ordered.
Haruka sat down.
*They* referred to the Inner Senshi and Tuxedo Kamen. The Inner and
Outer Senshi considered themselves two halves of one whole. Both had
their differences; from their tactics in combat to their ideals of
communication. After all, the Outer Senshi tended to do things their
way. Yet the two halves believed in their prince and princess, the
future king and queen, Chiba Mamoru and Usagi. That lone similarity
bound them together, made them an indivisible team, even when all hope
seemed amiss.
Now with the news of the Great Freeze soon approaching (how soon was
unclear), was all hope lost for the Outer Senshi? That was exactly
what Haruka suspected. Setsuna never mentioned the future, let alone
Crystal Tokyo. Michiru and Hotaru accepted that, for they understood
that the future was to remain unknown. Haruka, however, tried to pry
any information out of the time guardian, but it was to no avail. She
even asked Usagi about Crystal Tokyo, and then point-blank asked her
about the futures of the Outer Senshi. Usagi could only apologize to
Haruka. Her trip to Crystal Tokyo happened before she first met them,
and so it was safe to say they wouldn't have been mentioned. Even the
future's Sailorpluto kept her mouth shut.
Setsuna arose from her chair and addressed the issue once more. "This
is part of our destiny, Haruka. From what the Time Gate showed me last
night, the Great Freeze has nothing to do with Usagi-chan and the
others."
"Nothing?" Haruka retorted. "The whole world is going to be a huge
Popsicle for a thousand years and you're saying it has nothing to do
with them?!"
Setsuna wanted to roll her eyes. "I meant mission wise," she
emphasized. "Usagi-chan, Mamoru-san, and the Senshi are not the ones
who take part in the Great Freeze's initiation. It was never meant to
be that way."
"So... this is our destiny." Michiru said, mostly to herself. "We're the
ones meant to bring about the Great Freeze."
"Well, we take part in it."
"Then who starts it?" Haruka inquired.
Setsuna deeply exhaled. "I honestly don't know. That information has
been withheld from me." She averted her eyes and stared at Hotaru.
"Did you by any chance recognize those people in your vision last
night?"
Hotaru pretended to mull over the question for the moment, as if trying
to place names with the faces she saw. "No," she finally said, partly
lying. "I don't know who they were." She hoped that no one could see
through her fib.
Haruka placed her hands behind her head and her feet on the table.
"All right, so what's our mission, Setsuna?"
There were very few incidences when Setsuna wanted to lose her temper
and explode. This was one of those incidences. Yes, she was
Sailorpluto, the lone guardian of time with the blood of Cronos running
through her veins. With those fragments of information, everyone
wondered how much she knew about the future. Except from what the Time
Gate revealed to her, which came to her like prophetic visions, Setsuna
knew nothing -- absolutely nothing. So when someone, especially
Haruka, expected her to know everything, she was more than a little
teed off.
Haruka must have sensed Setsuna's anger, for she went on to say, "Well
I guess it doesn't matter what our mission is. I think all of us will
agree that it shouldn't be ignored."
"Which is why we shouldn't tell Usagi-chan," Michiru added. Her mind
wandered to the time she and Haruka were searching for the talismans,
and when Sailorsaturn was a threat to them and the world's existence.
It was Usagi who said over and over again that no one needed to be
sacrificed, yet how ironic was it that she was always willing to
sacrifice her own life to save those she loved dearly?
"It may have worked out last time," Michiru continued, referring to
those memories, "but that doesn't mean it will this time. It's for the
best that we keep this a secret."
Hotaru nodded along with the other women, yet she did not quite agree.
She knew Usagi. No matter what kind of mess Usagi got herself into,
everything seemed to work out in the end, and perhaps for the better.
Hotaru wouldn't go behind her parents and tell Usagi about the Great
Freeze, but she wondered... What would happen if she did?
"Speaking of Usagi..." Michiru mentioned waited until she had everyone's
attention. "She called me yesterday." A small smile appeared on her
face. "She's pregnant."
Haruka snorted. That wasn't exactly great news to her after the
conversation they just had. "Well," she said, "I'm happy for her, but
I hope she has that baby before the world goes to hell."
~*~*~
Winter 2005
Six months later...
Chiba Usagi lay across her queen-sized bed on her right side, her
pillow elevating her feet. Before her was a small stack of traveling
books she'd checked out of the library that afternoon. They were all
concerning North Carolina, a state in the United States of America.
For the past hour Usagi had done nothing but read.
Now, the last thing Usagi wanted to do was learn something completely
useless, except maybe during a game of Trivial Pursuit. Yet Usagi
wanted an idea as to where Mamoru was headed tomorrow. She was a bit
protective of her husband, and with good reason. If she couldn't go
with her husband, then she wanted to know *something* about where he
was going to be!
Mamoru entered their bedroom, wearing an old college T-shirt and a pair
of boxer shorts. He went over to the bed and kissed his wife on the
forehead. She set her book down beside her and returned her husband's
kind gesture with a kiss on the lips.
"Did you know that Pepsi was invented in the Carolinas?" Usagi wanted
to stump Mamoru.
Mamoru smiled and played along with her trivia game. "Did you know
that Coca-Cola originally got its name from the small amount of cocaine
in each serving?"
"Did you know that Michael Jordan and Reverend Billy Graham are both
from North Carolina? So was Ava Gardner, but I never liked her movies
that much."
"Did you know you're very sexy when you say off-the-wall trivia? It
just turns me on."
Usagi smirked, "Really? Maybe I should do it more often!"
Mamoru chuckled and headed for the bathroom adjoined to their bedroom.
Usagi got up from the bed, stretched, stood in front of the mirror
attached to the dresser and stared at her reflection. At six months in
her pregnancy she appeared to have a slightly over-sized basketball
under her pajamas, but she that wouldn't last for very long. Soon her
stomach would resemble a jumbo beach ball.
"I'm getting fat," she thought aloud, louder than she intended.
Mamoru, who was brushing his teeth, heard his wife. He spit out the
foamy substance and rinsed his mouth out before replying. "Usako," he
said as he walked out the bathroom, "you're not fat. I happen to think
you're quite beautiful."
"Oh yeah?" Usagi argued. "Let me tell you what happened today. This
afternoon, when the parents were picking up their kids, one of the
mothers asked me, 'How far along are you?' When I told her she then
asked, 'Oh, are you expecting twins?' I found that rather offensive."
Mamoru wanted to laugh but fought the urge to do so. "Usako, you're a
little woman. The baby has no where to go but in front."
"Little? Look at me! I have a feeling I'm going to be a Goodyear
blimp! I'll need a big yellow sign on my butt that says 'wide load' so
people won't bump into me."
If this is how she is as six months, Mamoru thought to himself, I can
only imagine what she'll be like at nine months. He wrapped his arms
around his wife, placing his hands on her round stomach. "You know,"
he teased, "I think a certain someone woke up on the wrong side of the
bed this morning."
Usagi shook her head. "No," she corrected, "I woke up in a very good
mood today. It's just that it's very hard to stay in a good mood when
you're racing back and forth to the bathroom and you have thirty kids
to look after. It makes me wonder if the baby is using my bladder as a
chair."
"Aww..." Mamoru knelt down beside Usagi, cupped his hands around his
mouth like a bullhorn and spoke to their unborn child. "Hello in
there! We love you and we can't wait to meet you, but for now you need
to give Mommy a break. Please, do it for Daddy..."
Usagi laughed, perhaps for the first time all day. Only her Mamo-chan
could accomplish such a feat.
"Do you honestly think she'll listen to you?" Usagi asked.
"You mean he, right?" Mamoru inquired with a curled grin on his face.
"No, I meant she."
"Now what if it's a boy?"
"What if it's a girl?"
"Usako, can't we just find out?"
"No, I want to be surprised!"
Mamoru inwardly groaned. "Well I think it's a boy," he said, wanting
the last word.
Usagi smiled. Ever since she and her husband found out they were
having a baby, Mamoru had been *secretly* wishing for a boy. Not that
he'd be disappointed if the baby was a girl, but between her and
ChibiUsa and the Sailor Senshi, Usagi figured Mamoru was tired of being
the only male in the group.
"Well, if it *is* a boy," Usagi suggested, "what do you think we should
name him?"
Mamoru stood and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know," he confessed.
"To be honest I once thought we wouldn't have to worry about picking
names. Let's see..." He sat down on the bed and thought for a moment.
"Daisuke?" he suggested.
Usagi wrinkled her nose. "Too common," she said. "I have two boys
named Daisuke at the daycare."
"Yeah, you're right..." Mamoru tried to think of another name. How odd
it was that, no matter how many names a person knew, hardly any would
come to mind when he or she tried to think of them. "Yugata? Kaname?"
Usagi sat down next to her husband and placed her head on his shoulder.
"Would you like to know my choice?" she asked.
One of Mamoru's eyebrows rose slightly. "I thought you were rooting
for a girl," he remarked.
"Mamo-chan, you know it doesn't matter to me. As long as the baby is
healthy then I don't care if it's a boy or a girl. But I've been
thinking over some names and I want your opinion on one. How do you
like Hitori?"
Mamoru's brow rose. "Hitori?" he repeated. "My father's name?"
Luna, who had been eavesdropping on the couple's conversation for the
whole duration, padded her way into their bedroom. "Royalty oftentimes
named their children after family members," she pointed out. "It was
especially true for the royal moon family." Luna took a second to
recall what she'd just said. "Of course, you're already aware of that
with ChibiUsa..."
"What do you think, Mamo-chan?" Usagi asked.
"Well..." Mamoru mulled over the idea for a moment or two. He never
thought about naming his child after his father, a man he wished he
knew and remembered. Along with ChibiUsa and almost believing he and
Usagi wouldn't have another child, Mamoru never thought he'd have the
chance.
"I like it," he said finally.
Usagi beamed. "Really?"
"Mm-hmm."
Luna hopped onto the bed, circled once and settled down on one of the
corners, feet inward and tail around her. She loved their bed, but
until recently the feline rarely slept in the couple's bedroom for...
well, certain reasons.
"Well, now that that's settled, I'd like to make a suggestion," Luna
declared. "I suggest that the three of you go to sleep. You have to
be at the airport at eight o'clock, don't you, Mamoru?"
Usagi whined, "That means I have to set the alarm clock for five... Mamo-
chan, why couldn't you get a later flight?"
"Because," he stated, "if I changed flights my ticket wouldn't have
been free."
"Oh... cheapskate."
Last September Mamoru was invited to partake in an international
medical conference that would be held at Duke University in Durham,
North Carolina, an institution famous for its top rated medical center.
Out of millions of physicians worldwide, only a selected one hundred in
emergency medicine and microbiology were chosen. Consequently, the
main topic for the conference was how to better prepare ER physicians
in case of an epidemic. (Mamoru suspected that the anthrax threats in
America and the six outbreaks of Ebola and Lassa Fever in Europe and
Africa in the past three years had something to do with the
conference.) Mamoru felt honored to be chosen, but he wasn't exactly
thrilled about boarding an airplane. At least this time he wasn't
traveling alone. His brother-in-law was tagging along, in hopes to
write an article on Dr. Stephen Lehmkuhl for the Tokyo Tribune.
But if fear wasn't a good reason to stay behind - a pregnant wife was.
Whether it was concern or his male ego, Mamoru hated for Usagi to stay
by herself for the next week. Yet if it weren't for her basically
urging him to take this "once in a lifetime" opportunity, he'd stay
home tomorrow. Mamoru had the tendency to learn from the past. When
his life was going better than he ever expected, something always
turned it into a crapshoot. If destiny saw fit, lightening *would*
strike again.
~*~*~
Dr. Hu Yen Li enjoyed an evening with a couple of old college friends
at a fancy yet quaint Italian restaurant in Beijing. They dined on
pastas and wine as they discussed the current events, politics, their
careers, and bits and pieces of their personal lives. It was such a
marvelous time, though very short-lived. After he bid farewell to his
friends Hu Yen returned to his pent house, and to his solitude. He
hung his coat on the rack by the door and retired in the living room,
sitting down in front of his computer.
His mind began to wander. Six months ago two physicians, whose names
were Thilivhali Krynauw and James Sexwale, were killed in the parking
lot of Cape Town University Medical Center by a bomb initiated by the
starting of the engine. The case was eventually dropped. Authorities
never found any suspects, leads, substantial evidence or even a witness
to the crime. Yet one thing was for certain. Whoever killed those
doctors had a purpose, and they successfully completed it.
Something inside of Hu Yen screamed that the bomb was Dr. Stephen
Lehmkuhl's doing. He knew Stephen was the chief geneticist for the
microbiology department at the medical center. It was possible that an
insider wanted to leak information to the public that concerned his
precious, classified research program. Stephen must have eliminated
that person (and perhaps his accomplice?) before he became a threat to
him.
Then there was the chief virologist before Sexwale. Supposedly the man
asked to resign from his position, the reasons behind his decision
unknown. But three weeks later, the virologist's lifeless body was
dredged up from Richard's Bay in South Africa. A suicide note was
later found in his apartment. Hu Yen suspected that was Stephen's
doing as well. Whoever became anything of a threat to his greater plan
was immediately disposed of.
Hu Yen knew he was next.
Stephen had told him five years ago.
Oh, yes he did. He regretted ever knowing Stephen Lehmkuhl. If Hu Yen
could go back in time and do anything over again, he would have never
gone to New York and we would have never made that business deal with
that foreigner. He should have closed the doors to his laboratories
and gone back to his private practice at the abortion clinic.
Hu Yen logged onto his email account and took out a folded slip of
paper from his coat pocket. He then unlocked one of the desk drawers
and retrieved a disc, placing it inside his computer's CD-ROM drive.
Stephen had used his laboratory long enough. When Hu Yen was tired of
the many unanswered questions, he started his own investigation.
The email address of a young Japanese reporter was written on the slip
of paper. His name was Tsukino Shingo. Hu Yen only knew of his
reputation, a rising star bound to become one of the top journalists in
the Orient. That was quite an accomplishment in itself, especially for
someone at 24 years of age.
A zipped file had been saved on the disc, which contained more than
enough documents and photographs that proved the existence of Sleeper.
Hu Yen hurriedly wrote a brief message to the journalist and attached
the file. Then he waited for the file to upload, becoming more anxious
with each passing second. Once the email was sent, Hu Yen shut off his
computer without so much as signing off the Internet.
"Hu Yen."
Hu Yen jerked in his chair, startled. He searched for the source of
the tantalizing voice and soon noticed the silhouette of a woman cast
upon the wall. Rising from his seat Hu Yen turned around and saw an
Asian beauty standing before him. She smiled smugly at him, looked at
him, like a lioness studying his prey.
"Who are you?" Hu Yen demanded to know.
The woman ignored him. "I have a message for you," she stated. "Your
assistance with the purging of mankind has served its purpose.
Children of Mother Earth would like to extend their gratitude."
She took the handgun from her clutch purse and fired each bullet at the
victim. Hu Yen fell back, collapsing onto the floor and soon covered
by a pool of crimson blood. During his last minutes of life he cursed
Stephen Lehmkuhl's name, and he silently cried. Why did it always have
to be him...?
~*~*~
Though it was nearing midnight and Tsukino Shingo had to leave for the
airport at six o'clock the next morning, he was still wide-awake. He
sat in the living room of his and Mika's apartment with his laptop,
browsing through the World Wide Web. His earphones were plugged into
his computer, blaring out the music on his favorite mix CD.
It's the end of the world as we know it
It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine...
Shingo logged onto the Center of Disease Control and Prevention web
site for information on viral hemorrhagic fever diseases, a subject he
thought he'd never hear about outside his tenth grade biology class.
He still remembered that video on the Ebola virus. Villagers in Africa
dying horrific deaths, the mass graves, the extremes that doctors went
through to protect themselves from infection... it made Shingo very
thankful that he followed his father's footsteps and went into
journalism.
The reason, or person, behind Shingo's interest in VHF diseases was the
man he wished to interview when he traveled to America the next day
with his brother-in-law. Dr. Stephen Lehmkuhl was the chief geneticist
for Cape Town University Medical Center in South Africa. Lehmkuhl was
considered a revered man. For over 12 years he had funded and headed
the research program that was to unlock the mysteries behind the VHF
diseases, and hopefully create antidotes for each one. With the recent
Lassa Fever outbreak in Egypt, a feature story on the man who could
possibly one day hold the future cure was perfect for the Tokyo
Tribune. At least that's what Shingo and his boss believed. But if
Shingo could not interview the geneticist, an article on VHF diseases
and the recent outbreak was sufficient enough.
Shingo wanted that interview. It was his ticket to a raise.
An irritating chime, followed by a miniature pop-up screen, announced
that Shingo had a new email in his inbox. He looked at the sender's
name and decided to ignore it, exiting out of MSN Messenger(tm). He
didn't know a Hu Yen Li, nor did he care to be introduced. Probably
just another perverted mind sending him porno...
The CDC web site provided extensive information on several types of VHF
diseases. Since Lassa Fever was the latest news-breaking virus, Shingo
clinked on a link that directed him to more facts on a single disease
than he ever thought possible. He scanned over the web page and typed
notes in his Microsoft Word(tm) program along the way. Some of the
medical jargon was gibberish to him, so Shingo typed a quick reminder
to ask Mamoru about Bio-Safety Level 4, enzyme-linked immunosorbent
serologic assays (ELISA for short), and IgM and IgG antibodies. (It was
so nice to have a doctor in the family.) But the statistics, which
Shingo was most interested in, were up front and easy to comprehend.
"Approximately 10 to 16 percent of people admitted to
hospitals in areas of Sierra Leone and Liberia have Lassa
Fever. 15 to 20 percent of those hospitalized patients die
from the illness. Death rates are particularly high for
women in third trimester of pregnancy. 95 percent of
fetuses die in the uterus of infected mothers. All of
these estimates are known to rise during a massive
epidemic."
As Shingo highlighted that brief paragraph to copy it to his notes, the
web page disappeared. A computerized voice said "Sayonara!" as he was
brought back to the sign-on screen. Shingo suddenly felt as if someone
was watching him. He looked over his shoulder. There was Mika in her
nightshirt and bathrobe, holding the phone line that connected his
laptop to the jack. She did not look happy.
"Do you know what time it is?" she interrogated.
Shingo looked at the clock on his computer screen. His eyes grew wide
from shock. "Whoa... it's 12:27!"
"That's right. Shingo, you don't even have five hours to sleep!
You're going to drive Mamoru crazy on that plane tomorrow!"
"Aww, babe, don't worry. I'll get enough sleep."
Mika huffed and placed her hands on her hips. Oh sure, she mentally
jeered, and you'll be a barrel of monkeys when I wake you up. Mika
slept with the sheet-hogger. She knew exactly how Shingo behaved early
in the morning -- just like his sister.
~*~*~
"Mankind is incapable of a transformation."
With his body undergoing the effects of jet lag and several sleepless
nights Stephen was exhausted from traveling, yet he was quite content
with his Asian beauty sitting next to him. The two companions enjoyed
a limousine ride through the bustling streets of Hong Kong, the windows
rolled down, taking in the sights of the nightlife.
Hoshino Atsuko was his Asian beauty, who was an ethereal specimen of
living and breathing denial. She viewed herself as more than Stephen's
companion and that much was true, yet Atsuko believed she the only one
free of his enchanting spell, the only one without a string around her
finger. Stephen knew otherwise. Atsuko was chained to him. She was
his most willing disciple, his Aphrodite that he toyed with. From her
actions to her emotions, he bore control of it all.
Atsuko rested her head on Stephen's shoulder. "Perhaps it's true for
mankind in general," she contradicted, "but we have evolved. We are
the ones who know and feel the needs of Mother Earth. We are the ones
who will be Mother Earth's saviors."
Stephen sighed, somewhat disgusted. "No," he deadpanned as he gazed at
the people outside. "We are just like them. All of mankind is nothing
but a mass of wretched creatures."
"Well, you stick to your opinions and I'll stick to mine." Atsuko sat
straight up in her seat and smiled at Stephen. "At least we believe in
our mission. Mother Earth will not have to worry about the wretched
creatures for long."
The chauffeur drove into a dark alley and parked the limousine. He
exited the vehicle and opened the door for Stephen and Atsuko. The two
companions walked towards a rusted metal door, hidden from the streets
by the dumpster beside it. Stephen banged on the door three times, the
signal he was requested to use. A boyish-appearing male looked through
the keyhole, just as a precaution, and opened the door.
"Good evening, Dr. Lehmkuhl," the young man greeted respectively. "And
good evening to you, Ms. Hoshino. How may I help you?"
Stephen returned the gesture with a simple, though polite nod. "I am
merely here to pick up my order. Were you able to follow the list of
directions I gave you?"
The apothecary grinned. "Of course I was, though I must admit that it
was one of my more peculiar orders. But no matter, your potassium
chloride has been packaged just as you have requested."
~*~*~
Tokyo International Airport teemed with thousands of lives, even in the
early hours of mornings. People arrived and departed, passing through
the guarded glass doors, carrying from backpacks to complete sets of
luggage, and each with a different destination in mind. They were
businessmen, honeymooners, vacationers, high school and college
students traveling abroad, tourists, and even missionaries from foreign
lands. These people stood, drifted around, read newspapers, checked
their watches, ate, and slept. They listened to music, tended to
crying babies, called their spouses, went to restrooms, bought last
minute tickets, and dashed to gates before their planes left. They
minded their own business, ignoring those around them, especially a
couple who was saying their good-byes.
Mamoru set his suitcase down for a moment and kissed his wife farewell.
"I'll see you next week," he promised her.
"You better," Usagi half ordered, half teased. "I don't need for you
to die on me again."
Shingo shook his head and threw his tote bag over his shoulder. From
the several trips he'd taken over the years he learned how to travel
light. Everything he would need for next week was crammed into one
piece of luggage.
"Don't make fun of them," Mika reminded her husband.
The blond man eyed his wife and broke into a smile. "If you give me a
kiss I'll behave."
"Yeah right, but I'll kiss you anyway." Mika wrapped her arms around
Shingo's shoulders and gave him a smooch on the lips. "Try not to get
into too much trouble while you're away."
"Yes, ma'am!" Shingo grabbed Mamoru's suitcase and slapped him across
the back with his free hand. "Hey, don't worry, Baka," he addressed
his sister, "I'll protect your hubby."
Usagi raised an eyebrow. "Great, I may never see him again."
An announcement was made over the airport's intercom system, informing
that all passengers for Flight 66 to New York City were now able to
board. Mamoru and Shingo were among those passengers. There were no
non-stop flights to North Carolina, so there was a layover before they
reached RDU International Airport.
The two men headed for the designated gate, though Mamoru stopped for
once second more. He looked over his shoulder at Usagi, a faint smile
on his face. "Next week," he assured. "When I get back I'll take you
out to eat."
Usagi beamed, grinning from ear to ear. "It's a deal!" she agreed, and
she waved goodbye to her husband and brother.
It was essential for her to put on a smile. She recalled how she cried
the last time she saw Mamoru off. But this time will be different, she
told herself. This time she would fight her tears until Mamoru's plane
was airborne. Her husband did not need to see her cry. After all, it
was only for one week. Before Usagi knew it, she would be back in her
arms again.
Mika placed a consoling hand on her sister-in-law's shoulder. "Usagi-
chan, are you okay?" she asked.
Tears began to fall down Usagi's cheeks as her husband disappeared in
the crowd. She gazed at Mika and finally confessed, "I don't want him
to go..."
Mika embraced Usagi, allowing all the teardrops to stain her shirt and
all the pent up turmoil and fear to breakout. Usagi silently vowed to
have a smile on her face when she picked her husband up next week. And
by next week, she would have every reason to smile.
======
End of Chapter Three
08.06.02
Disclaimer: Sailormoon and the characters of "Bishoujo Senshi
Sailormoon" are property of Takeuchi Naoko, Toei Animation, Kodansha,
etc. "Sleeper" is inspired by the novel "The Most Important Little Boy
in the World" written by Dean Briggs. It is property of the author and
Word Publishing. I do not have ownership and I do not make any profits
from the use of Sailormoon or the novel in this fan fiction.
Author's Notes:
First of all, the mysterious conversation between Stephen Lehmkuhl and
Hoshino Atsuko was influenced by a scene from chapter one of the novel
"The Most Important Little Boy in the World." It was not plagiarized.
I repeat: It was *not* plagiarized.
Everyone should know who Michael Jordan and Rev. Billy Graham are, but
many of you may not know Ava Gardner. She was a popular actress during
the 1940s and 1950s. A very beautiful woman, but I don't know anything
about her acting skills. I've never seen any of her movies.
The song Shingo is listening to is "End of the World" by REM.
Just to make it clear, MSN Messenger and Microsoft Word are copyrighted
(c) Microsoft Corporation. I don't own these programs. And Shingo's
Internet provider is a spoof on America Online, copyrighted (c) America
Online Inc. I don't own that, either.
I actually did go to the CDC web site for the information on Lassa
Fever. The brief paragraph on the statistics is not a direct quote,
however; it is a summarization.
Because I start college August 21, I don't know when chapter four will
be posted. College is a brand new world for me, and so I'm going to
have to make a lot of adjustments; I have to organize my time and get
used to living away from home. So please bear with me. If you don't
hear from me for a while, I'm not dead. I'm just busy with schoolwork
and the choir! So just remember that chapter four will be out as soon
as possible.
Email: masked_maiden@hotmail.com
Web Site: http://miracleromance.cjb.net/
Sleeper
By: Masked Maiden
Chapter Three: Crossing Borders
"What do you mean don't tell them?!"
Tenoh Haruka's sudden outburst was, to say the very least, expected.
She banged her fist on the kitchen table and started ranting, her
language changing from somewhat offensive to exceedingly vulgar with
every syllable spoken. Michiru caressed her lover's arm and looked up
at her, urging her to sit beside her and calm down.
"Calm down!?" Haruka snapped. "How am I supposed to calm down?
Setsuna here is telling us that they have no right to know about the
Great Freeze! And that to me is a bunch of bull--"
"Haruka..." Michiru glared at her with cold, stabbing eyes. "Sit down,"
she ordered.
Haruka sat down.
*They* referred to the Inner Senshi and Tuxedo Kamen. The Inner and
Outer Senshi considered themselves two halves of one whole. Both had
their differences; from their tactics in combat to their ideals of
communication. After all, the Outer Senshi tended to do things their
way. Yet the two halves believed in their prince and princess, the
future king and queen, Chiba Mamoru and Usagi. That lone similarity
bound them together, made them an indivisible team, even when all hope
seemed amiss.
Now with the news of the Great Freeze soon approaching (how soon was
unclear), was all hope lost for the Outer Senshi? That was exactly
what Haruka suspected. Setsuna never mentioned the future, let alone
Crystal Tokyo. Michiru and Hotaru accepted that, for they understood
that the future was to remain unknown. Haruka, however, tried to pry
any information out of the time guardian, but it was to no avail. She
even asked Usagi about Crystal Tokyo, and then point-blank asked her
about the futures of the Outer Senshi. Usagi could only apologize to
Haruka. Her trip to Crystal Tokyo happened before she first met them,
and so it was safe to say they wouldn't have been mentioned. Even the
future's Sailorpluto kept her mouth shut.
Setsuna arose from her chair and addressed the issue once more. "This
is part of our destiny, Haruka. From what the Time Gate showed me last
night, the Great Freeze has nothing to do with Usagi-chan and the
others."
"Nothing?" Haruka retorted. "The whole world is going to be a huge
Popsicle for a thousand years and you're saying it has nothing to do
with them?!"
Setsuna wanted to roll her eyes. "I meant mission wise," she
emphasized. "Usagi-chan, Mamoru-san, and the Senshi are not the ones
who take part in the Great Freeze's initiation. It was never meant to
be that way."
"So... this is our destiny." Michiru said, mostly to herself. "We're the
ones meant to bring about the Great Freeze."
"Well, we take part in it."
"Then who starts it?" Haruka inquired.
Setsuna deeply exhaled. "I honestly don't know. That information has
been withheld from me." She averted her eyes and stared at Hotaru.
"Did you by any chance recognize those people in your vision last
night?"
Hotaru pretended to mull over the question for the moment, as if trying
to place names with the faces she saw. "No," she finally said, partly
lying. "I don't know who they were." She hoped that no one could see
through her fib.
Haruka placed her hands behind her head and her feet on the table.
"All right, so what's our mission, Setsuna?"
There were very few incidences when Setsuna wanted to lose her temper
and explode. This was one of those incidences. Yes, she was
Sailorpluto, the lone guardian of time with the blood of Cronos running
through her veins. With those fragments of information, everyone
wondered how much she knew about the future. Except from what the Time
Gate revealed to her, which came to her like prophetic visions, Setsuna
knew nothing -- absolutely nothing. So when someone, especially
Haruka, expected her to know everything, she was more than a little
teed off.
Haruka must have sensed Setsuna's anger, for she went on to say, "Well
I guess it doesn't matter what our mission is. I think all of us will
agree that it shouldn't be ignored."
"Which is why we shouldn't tell Usagi-chan," Michiru added. Her mind
wandered to the time she and Haruka were searching for the talismans,
and when Sailorsaturn was a threat to them and the world's existence.
It was Usagi who said over and over again that no one needed to be
sacrificed, yet how ironic was it that she was always willing to
sacrifice her own life to save those she loved dearly?
"It may have worked out last time," Michiru continued, referring to
those memories, "but that doesn't mean it will this time. It's for the
best that we keep this a secret."
Hotaru nodded along with the other women, yet she did not quite agree.
She knew Usagi. No matter what kind of mess Usagi got herself into,
everything seemed to work out in the end, and perhaps for the better.
Hotaru wouldn't go behind her parents and tell Usagi about the Great
Freeze, but she wondered... What would happen if she did?
"Speaking of Usagi..." Michiru mentioned waited until she had everyone's
attention. "She called me yesterday." A small smile appeared on her
face. "She's pregnant."
Haruka snorted. That wasn't exactly great news to her after the
conversation they just had. "Well," she said, "I'm happy for her, but
I hope she has that baby before the world goes to hell."
~*~*~
Winter 2005
Six months later...
Chiba Usagi lay across her queen-sized bed on her right side, her
pillow elevating her feet. Before her was a small stack of traveling
books she'd checked out of the library that afternoon. They were all
concerning North Carolina, a state in the United States of America.
For the past hour Usagi had done nothing but read.
Now, the last thing Usagi wanted to do was learn something completely
useless, except maybe during a game of Trivial Pursuit. Yet Usagi
wanted an idea as to where Mamoru was headed tomorrow. She was a bit
protective of her husband, and with good reason. If she couldn't go
with her husband, then she wanted to know *something* about where he
was going to be!
Mamoru entered their bedroom, wearing an old college T-shirt and a pair
of boxer shorts. He went over to the bed and kissed his wife on the
forehead. She set her book down beside her and returned her husband's
kind gesture with a kiss on the lips.
"Did you know that Pepsi was invented in the Carolinas?" Usagi wanted
to stump Mamoru.
Mamoru smiled and played along with her trivia game. "Did you know
that Coca-Cola originally got its name from the small amount of cocaine
in each serving?"
"Did you know that Michael Jordan and Reverend Billy Graham are both
from North Carolina? So was Ava Gardner, but I never liked her movies
that much."
"Did you know you're very sexy when you say off-the-wall trivia? It
just turns me on."
Usagi smirked, "Really? Maybe I should do it more often!"
Mamoru chuckled and headed for the bathroom adjoined to their bedroom.
Usagi got up from the bed, stretched, stood in front of the mirror
attached to the dresser and stared at her reflection. At six months in
her pregnancy she appeared to have a slightly over-sized basketball
under her pajamas, but she that wouldn't last for very long. Soon her
stomach would resemble a jumbo beach ball.
"I'm getting fat," she thought aloud, louder than she intended.
Mamoru, who was brushing his teeth, heard his wife. He spit out the
foamy substance and rinsed his mouth out before replying. "Usako," he
said as he walked out the bathroom, "you're not fat. I happen to think
you're quite beautiful."
"Oh yeah?" Usagi argued. "Let me tell you what happened today. This
afternoon, when the parents were picking up their kids, one of the
mothers asked me, 'How far along are you?' When I told her she then
asked, 'Oh, are you expecting twins?' I found that rather offensive."
Mamoru wanted to laugh but fought the urge to do so. "Usako, you're a
little woman. The baby has no where to go but in front."
"Little? Look at me! I have a feeling I'm going to be a Goodyear
blimp! I'll need a big yellow sign on my butt that says 'wide load' so
people won't bump into me."
If this is how she is as six months, Mamoru thought to himself, I can
only imagine what she'll be like at nine months. He wrapped his arms
around his wife, placing his hands on her round stomach. "You know,"
he teased, "I think a certain someone woke up on the wrong side of the
bed this morning."
Usagi shook her head. "No," she corrected, "I woke up in a very good
mood today. It's just that it's very hard to stay in a good mood when
you're racing back and forth to the bathroom and you have thirty kids
to look after. It makes me wonder if the baby is using my bladder as a
chair."
"Aww..." Mamoru knelt down beside Usagi, cupped his hands around his
mouth like a bullhorn and spoke to their unborn child. "Hello in
there! We love you and we can't wait to meet you, but for now you need
to give Mommy a break. Please, do it for Daddy..."
Usagi laughed, perhaps for the first time all day. Only her Mamo-chan
could accomplish such a feat.
"Do you honestly think she'll listen to you?" Usagi asked.
"You mean he, right?" Mamoru inquired with a curled grin on his face.
"No, I meant she."
"Now what if it's a boy?"
"What if it's a girl?"
"Usako, can't we just find out?"
"No, I want to be surprised!"
Mamoru inwardly groaned. "Well I think it's a boy," he said, wanting
the last word.
Usagi smiled. Ever since she and her husband found out they were
having a baby, Mamoru had been *secretly* wishing for a boy. Not that
he'd be disappointed if the baby was a girl, but between her and
ChibiUsa and the Sailor Senshi, Usagi figured Mamoru was tired of being
the only male in the group.
"Well, if it *is* a boy," Usagi suggested, "what do you think we should
name him?"
Mamoru stood and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know," he confessed.
"To be honest I once thought we wouldn't have to worry about picking
names. Let's see..." He sat down on the bed and thought for a moment.
"Daisuke?" he suggested.
Usagi wrinkled her nose. "Too common," she said. "I have two boys
named Daisuke at the daycare."
"Yeah, you're right..." Mamoru tried to think of another name. How odd
it was that, no matter how many names a person knew, hardly any would
come to mind when he or she tried to think of them. "Yugata? Kaname?"
Usagi sat down next to her husband and placed her head on his shoulder.
"Would you like to know my choice?" she asked.
One of Mamoru's eyebrows rose slightly. "I thought you were rooting
for a girl," he remarked.
"Mamo-chan, you know it doesn't matter to me. As long as the baby is
healthy then I don't care if it's a boy or a girl. But I've been
thinking over some names and I want your opinion on one. How do you
like Hitori?"
Mamoru's brow rose. "Hitori?" he repeated. "My father's name?"
Luna, who had been eavesdropping on the couple's conversation for the
whole duration, padded her way into their bedroom. "Royalty oftentimes
named their children after family members," she pointed out. "It was
especially true for the royal moon family." Luna took a second to
recall what she'd just said. "Of course, you're already aware of that
with ChibiUsa..."
"What do you think, Mamo-chan?" Usagi asked.
"Well..." Mamoru mulled over the idea for a moment or two. He never
thought about naming his child after his father, a man he wished he
knew and remembered. Along with ChibiUsa and almost believing he and
Usagi wouldn't have another child, Mamoru never thought he'd have the
chance.
"I like it," he said finally.
Usagi beamed. "Really?"
"Mm-hmm."
Luna hopped onto the bed, circled once and settled down on one of the
corners, feet inward and tail around her. She loved their bed, but
until recently the feline rarely slept in the couple's bedroom for...
well, certain reasons.
"Well, now that that's settled, I'd like to make a suggestion," Luna
declared. "I suggest that the three of you go to sleep. You have to
be at the airport at eight o'clock, don't you, Mamoru?"
Usagi whined, "That means I have to set the alarm clock for five... Mamo-
chan, why couldn't you get a later flight?"
"Because," he stated, "if I changed flights my ticket wouldn't have
been free."
"Oh... cheapskate."
Last September Mamoru was invited to partake in an international
medical conference that would be held at Duke University in Durham,
North Carolina, an institution famous for its top rated medical center.
Out of millions of physicians worldwide, only a selected one hundred in
emergency medicine and microbiology were chosen. Consequently, the
main topic for the conference was how to better prepare ER physicians
in case of an epidemic. (Mamoru suspected that the anthrax threats in
America and the six outbreaks of Ebola and Lassa Fever in Europe and
Africa in the past three years had something to do with the
conference.) Mamoru felt honored to be chosen, but he wasn't exactly
thrilled about boarding an airplane. At least this time he wasn't
traveling alone. His brother-in-law was tagging along, in hopes to
write an article on Dr. Stephen Lehmkuhl for the Tokyo Tribune.
But if fear wasn't a good reason to stay behind - a pregnant wife was.
Whether it was concern or his male ego, Mamoru hated for Usagi to stay
by herself for the next week. Yet if it weren't for her basically
urging him to take this "once in a lifetime" opportunity, he'd stay
home tomorrow. Mamoru had the tendency to learn from the past. When
his life was going better than he ever expected, something always
turned it into a crapshoot. If destiny saw fit, lightening *would*
strike again.
~*~*~
Dr. Hu Yen Li enjoyed an evening with a couple of old college friends
at a fancy yet quaint Italian restaurant in Beijing. They dined on
pastas and wine as they discussed the current events, politics, their
careers, and bits and pieces of their personal lives. It was such a
marvelous time, though very short-lived. After he bid farewell to his
friends Hu Yen returned to his pent house, and to his solitude. He
hung his coat on the rack by the door and retired in the living room,
sitting down in front of his computer.
His mind began to wander. Six months ago two physicians, whose names
were Thilivhali Krynauw and James Sexwale, were killed in the parking
lot of Cape Town University Medical Center by a bomb initiated by the
starting of the engine. The case was eventually dropped. Authorities
never found any suspects, leads, substantial evidence or even a witness
to the crime. Yet one thing was for certain. Whoever killed those
doctors had a purpose, and they successfully completed it.
Something inside of Hu Yen screamed that the bomb was Dr. Stephen
Lehmkuhl's doing. He knew Stephen was the chief geneticist for the
microbiology department at the medical center. It was possible that an
insider wanted to leak information to the public that concerned his
precious, classified research program. Stephen must have eliminated
that person (and perhaps his accomplice?) before he became a threat to
him.
Then there was the chief virologist before Sexwale. Supposedly the man
asked to resign from his position, the reasons behind his decision
unknown. But three weeks later, the virologist's lifeless body was
dredged up from Richard's Bay in South Africa. A suicide note was
later found in his apartment. Hu Yen suspected that was Stephen's
doing as well. Whoever became anything of a threat to his greater plan
was immediately disposed of.
Hu Yen knew he was next.
Stephen had told him five years ago.
Oh, yes he did. He regretted ever knowing Stephen Lehmkuhl. If Hu Yen
could go back in time and do anything over again, he would have never
gone to New York and we would have never made that business deal with
that foreigner. He should have closed the doors to his laboratories
and gone back to his private practice at the abortion clinic.
Hu Yen logged onto his email account and took out a folded slip of
paper from his coat pocket. He then unlocked one of the desk drawers
and retrieved a disc, placing it inside his computer's CD-ROM drive.
Stephen had used his laboratory long enough. When Hu Yen was tired of
the many unanswered questions, he started his own investigation.
The email address of a young Japanese reporter was written on the slip
of paper. His name was Tsukino Shingo. Hu Yen only knew of his
reputation, a rising star bound to become one of the top journalists in
the Orient. That was quite an accomplishment in itself, especially for
someone at 24 years of age.
A zipped file had been saved on the disc, which contained more than
enough documents and photographs that proved the existence of Sleeper.
Hu Yen hurriedly wrote a brief message to the journalist and attached
the file. Then he waited for the file to upload, becoming more anxious
with each passing second. Once the email was sent, Hu Yen shut off his
computer without so much as signing off the Internet.
"Hu Yen."
Hu Yen jerked in his chair, startled. He searched for the source of
the tantalizing voice and soon noticed the silhouette of a woman cast
upon the wall. Rising from his seat Hu Yen turned around and saw an
Asian beauty standing before him. She smiled smugly at him, looked at
him, like a lioness studying his prey.
"Who are you?" Hu Yen demanded to know.
The woman ignored him. "I have a message for you," she stated. "Your
assistance with the purging of mankind has served its purpose.
Children of Mother Earth would like to extend their gratitude."
She took the handgun from her clutch purse and fired each bullet at the
victim. Hu Yen fell back, collapsing onto the floor and soon covered
by a pool of crimson blood. During his last minutes of life he cursed
Stephen Lehmkuhl's name, and he silently cried. Why did it always have
to be him...?
~*~*~
Though it was nearing midnight and Tsukino Shingo had to leave for the
airport at six o'clock the next morning, he was still wide-awake. He
sat in the living room of his and Mika's apartment with his laptop,
browsing through the World Wide Web. His earphones were plugged into
his computer, blaring out the music on his favorite mix CD.
It's the end of the world as we know it
It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine...
Shingo logged onto the Center of Disease Control and Prevention web
site for information on viral hemorrhagic fever diseases, a subject he
thought he'd never hear about outside his tenth grade biology class.
He still remembered that video on the Ebola virus. Villagers in Africa
dying horrific deaths, the mass graves, the extremes that doctors went
through to protect themselves from infection... it made Shingo very
thankful that he followed his father's footsteps and went into
journalism.
The reason, or person, behind Shingo's interest in VHF diseases was the
man he wished to interview when he traveled to America the next day
with his brother-in-law. Dr. Stephen Lehmkuhl was the chief geneticist
for Cape Town University Medical Center in South Africa. Lehmkuhl was
considered a revered man. For over 12 years he had funded and headed
the research program that was to unlock the mysteries behind the VHF
diseases, and hopefully create antidotes for each one. With the recent
Lassa Fever outbreak in Egypt, a feature story on the man who could
possibly one day hold the future cure was perfect for the Tokyo
Tribune. At least that's what Shingo and his boss believed. But if
Shingo could not interview the geneticist, an article on VHF diseases
and the recent outbreak was sufficient enough.
Shingo wanted that interview. It was his ticket to a raise.
An irritating chime, followed by a miniature pop-up screen, announced
that Shingo had a new email in his inbox. He looked at the sender's
name and decided to ignore it, exiting out of MSN Messenger(tm). He
didn't know a Hu Yen Li, nor did he care to be introduced. Probably
just another perverted mind sending him porno...
The CDC web site provided extensive information on several types of VHF
diseases. Since Lassa Fever was the latest news-breaking virus, Shingo
clinked on a link that directed him to more facts on a single disease
than he ever thought possible. He scanned over the web page and typed
notes in his Microsoft Word(tm) program along the way. Some of the
medical jargon was gibberish to him, so Shingo typed a quick reminder
to ask Mamoru about Bio-Safety Level 4, enzyme-linked immunosorbent
serologic assays (ELISA for short), and IgM and IgG antibodies. (It was
so nice to have a doctor in the family.) But the statistics, which
Shingo was most interested in, were up front and easy to comprehend.
"Approximately 10 to 16 percent of people admitted to
hospitals in areas of Sierra Leone and Liberia have Lassa
Fever. 15 to 20 percent of those hospitalized patients die
from the illness. Death rates are particularly high for
women in third trimester of pregnancy. 95 percent of
fetuses die in the uterus of infected mothers. All of
these estimates are known to rise during a massive
epidemic."
As Shingo highlighted that brief paragraph to copy it to his notes, the
web page disappeared. A computerized voice said "Sayonara!" as he was
brought back to the sign-on screen. Shingo suddenly felt as if someone
was watching him. He looked over his shoulder. There was Mika in her
nightshirt and bathrobe, holding the phone line that connected his
laptop to the jack. She did not look happy.
"Do you know what time it is?" she interrogated.
Shingo looked at the clock on his computer screen. His eyes grew wide
from shock. "Whoa... it's 12:27!"
"That's right. Shingo, you don't even have five hours to sleep!
You're going to drive Mamoru crazy on that plane tomorrow!"
"Aww, babe, don't worry. I'll get enough sleep."
Mika huffed and placed her hands on her hips. Oh sure, she mentally
jeered, and you'll be a barrel of monkeys when I wake you up. Mika
slept with the sheet-hogger. She knew exactly how Shingo behaved early
in the morning -- just like his sister.
~*~*~
"Mankind is incapable of a transformation."
With his body undergoing the effects of jet lag and several sleepless
nights Stephen was exhausted from traveling, yet he was quite content
with his Asian beauty sitting next to him. The two companions enjoyed
a limousine ride through the bustling streets of Hong Kong, the windows
rolled down, taking in the sights of the nightlife.
Hoshino Atsuko was his Asian beauty, who was an ethereal specimen of
living and breathing denial. She viewed herself as more than Stephen's
companion and that much was true, yet Atsuko believed she the only one
free of his enchanting spell, the only one without a string around her
finger. Stephen knew otherwise. Atsuko was chained to him. She was
his most willing disciple, his Aphrodite that he toyed with. From her
actions to her emotions, he bore control of it all.
Atsuko rested her head on Stephen's shoulder. "Perhaps it's true for
mankind in general," she contradicted, "but we have evolved. We are
the ones who know and feel the needs of Mother Earth. We are the ones
who will be Mother Earth's saviors."
Stephen sighed, somewhat disgusted. "No," he deadpanned as he gazed at
the people outside. "We are just like them. All of mankind is nothing
but a mass of wretched creatures."
"Well, you stick to your opinions and I'll stick to mine." Atsuko sat
straight up in her seat and smiled at Stephen. "At least we believe in
our mission. Mother Earth will not have to worry about the wretched
creatures for long."
The chauffeur drove into a dark alley and parked the limousine. He
exited the vehicle and opened the door for Stephen and Atsuko. The two
companions walked towards a rusted metal door, hidden from the streets
by the dumpster beside it. Stephen banged on the door three times, the
signal he was requested to use. A boyish-appearing male looked through
the keyhole, just as a precaution, and opened the door.
"Good evening, Dr. Lehmkuhl," the young man greeted respectively. "And
good evening to you, Ms. Hoshino. How may I help you?"
Stephen returned the gesture with a simple, though polite nod. "I am
merely here to pick up my order. Were you able to follow the list of
directions I gave you?"
The apothecary grinned. "Of course I was, though I must admit that it
was one of my more peculiar orders. But no matter, your potassium
chloride has been packaged just as you have requested."
~*~*~
Tokyo International Airport teemed with thousands of lives, even in the
early hours of mornings. People arrived and departed, passing through
the guarded glass doors, carrying from backpacks to complete sets of
luggage, and each with a different destination in mind. They were
businessmen, honeymooners, vacationers, high school and college
students traveling abroad, tourists, and even missionaries from foreign
lands. These people stood, drifted around, read newspapers, checked
their watches, ate, and slept. They listened to music, tended to
crying babies, called their spouses, went to restrooms, bought last
minute tickets, and dashed to gates before their planes left. They
minded their own business, ignoring those around them, especially a
couple who was saying their good-byes.
Mamoru set his suitcase down for a moment and kissed his wife farewell.
"I'll see you next week," he promised her.
"You better," Usagi half ordered, half teased. "I don't need for you
to die on me again."
Shingo shook his head and threw his tote bag over his shoulder. From
the several trips he'd taken over the years he learned how to travel
light. Everything he would need for next week was crammed into one
piece of luggage.
"Don't make fun of them," Mika reminded her husband.
The blond man eyed his wife and broke into a smile. "If you give me a
kiss I'll behave."
"Yeah right, but I'll kiss you anyway." Mika wrapped her arms around
Shingo's shoulders and gave him a smooch on the lips. "Try not to get
into too much trouble while you're away."
"Yes, ma'am!" Shingo grabbed Mamoru's suitcase and slapped him across
the back with his free hand. "Hey, don't worry, Baka," he addressed
his sister, "I'll protect your hubby."
Usagi raised an eyebrow. "Great, I may never see him again."
An announcement was made over the airport's intercom system, informing
that all passengers for Flight 66 to New York City were now able to
board. Mamoru and Shingo were among those passengers. There were no
non-stop flights to North Carolina, so there was a layover before they
reached RDU International Airport.
The two men headed for the designated gate, though Mamoru stopped for
once second more. He looked over his shoulder at Usagi, a faint smile
on his face. "Next week," he assured. "When I get back I'll take you
out to eat."
Usagi beamed, grinning from ear to ear. "It's a deal!" she agreed, and
she waved goodbye to her husband and brother.
It was essential for her to put on a smile. She recalled how she cried
the last time she saw Mamoru off. But this time will be different, she
told herself. This time she would fight her tears until Mamoru's plane
was airborne. Her husband did not need to see her cry. After all, it
was only for one week. Before Usagi knew it, she would be back in her
arms again.
Mika placed a consoling hand on her sister-in-law's shoulder. "Usagi-
chan, are you okay?" she asked.
Tears began to fall down Usagi's cheeks as her husband disappeared in
the crowd. She gazed at Mika and finally confessed, "I don't want him
to go..."
Mika embraced Usagi, allowing all the teardrops to stain her shirt and
all the pent up turmoil and fear to breakout. Usagi silently vowed to
have a smile on her face when she picked her husband up next week. And
by next week, she would have every reason to smile.
======
End of Chapter Three
08.06.02
Disclaimer: Sailormoon and the characters of "Bishoujo Senshi
Sailormoon" are property of Takeuchi Naoko, Toei Animation, Kodansha,
etc. "Sleeper" is inspired by the novel "The Most Important Little Boy
in the World" written by Dean Briggs. It is property of the author and
Word Publishing. I do not have ownership and I do not make any profits
from the use of Sailormoon or the novel in this fan fiction.
Author's Notes:
First of all, the mysterious conversation between Stephen Lehmkuhl and
Hoshino Atsuko was influenced by a scene from chapter one of the novel
"The Most Important Little Boy in the World." It was not plagiarized.
I repeat: It was *not* plagiarized.
Everyone should know who Michael Jordan and Rev. Billy Graham are, but
many of you may not know Ava Gardner. She was a popular actress during
the 1940s and 1950s. A very beautiful woman, but I don't know anything
about her acting skills. I've never seen any of her movies.
The song Shingo is listening to is "End of the World" by REM.
Just to make it clear, MSN Messenger and Microsoft Word are copyrighted
(c) Microsoft Corporation. I don't own these programs. And Shingo's
Internet provider is a spoof on America Online, copyrighted (c) America
Online Inc. I don't own that, either.
I actually did go to the CDC web site for the information on Lassa
Fever. The brief paragraph on the statistics is not a direct quote,
however; it is a summarization.
Because I start college August 21, I don't know when chapter four will
be posted. College is a brand new world for me, and so I'm going to
have to make a lot of adjustments; I have to organize my time and get
used to living away from home. So please bear with me. If you don't
hear from me for a while, I'm not dead. I'm just busy with schoolwork
and the choir! So just remember that chapter four will be out as soon
as possible.
Email: masked_maiden@hotmail.com
Web Site: http://miracleromance.cjb.net/