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Letters from Serenity
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Chapter Four: Visions
~Tokyo Rabbit
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Eating breakfast (some sort of condensed bar of foreign grains) I looked out from my door and watched Darren Conway talking to a few of my female interns. My eyes narrowed involuntarily as they giggled at some joke he had obviously cracked. Deciding that anything was better than standing here watching them, I walked over and smiled at Dr. Conway, "Good morning."
He did not return the greeting, "I'm still angry with you."
Darren's small fan club watched us intently; fixing that, I gave them a look of pure poison that made them run off to find something to do.
"Why?" I asked, taking a bite of the crunchy, halfway satisfying bar.
Those stormy blue eyes narrowed dangerously at me, but I refused to give in.
"I think you know why."
"Mmm.... No, not really," I said loftily.
"Rena-" he warned.
Throwing my hands up I sighed, "All right, all right! I'm sorry."
"For what?" He prompted.
Looking up at him, I wrinkled my nose. What was he trying to get at? He was acting like some sort of parent for goodness sakes! Well, he was old than me. Six years to be exact, making him twenty-six, but age doesn't matter much in this day and age where the Ambassadors' Crystals have prolonged life. To you, it may seem strange but to the children of the Silver Court it's normal. Population isn't a problem in the Utopian Planets either as to the rural planets under protection. There is a long, calculating process of getting approved to have children, but then again, it's not really as popular as it was thousands of years ago. Does that make since...?
Whoa! Way off subject Rena! What I began to say was that I don't see why he's treating me like this! It wasn't like he was my superior or anything. This was fifty-fifty. No more, no less.
"Darren, you're my partner. I said I was sorry, but I don't have to answer to you or ask for permission to enter the palace," I snapped before I even thought to think.
Just because we're older, doesn't necessarily mean that we're wiser....
Darren gave me a surprised look, which faded into an apologetic smile, "That's right. I'm the one who should be apologizing. I'm sorry Rena."
"I-"
"Well, I've got to get inside," he interrupted and before I could stop him, he walked inside one of the lager buildings where several studies where taking place.
Currently, I felt only two inches high, no wait. I don't even deserve that; .4 inches. I really hadn't meant to snap at him, but this was one of the most important things in my life. I had to solve this!
"Wait...! Darren was concerned, that's why he was acting like that!" I groaned, hitting my head with my hand.
Realizing that a little too late, I felt miserable. The man was actually concerned! My conscience could have killed me just then. And just as luck would have it, as I was about to run after him and apologize, David came running up to me at full speed, "Dr. Lemuria!!"
"What is it David?!" I asked almost as frantic as he looked.
When he stopped, he instantly doubled over panting like a maniac from his mad dash. Several moments later he was able to choke out, "Garden-Adela...!"
Fear flooded my scenes and it was my turn to make a mad dash. A prayer carried my feet faster as I exerted all of my energy. The palace doors were already open and before I knew it, I was in the palace gardens and I couldn't believe my eyes; everywhere little rose bushes grew from the ground. Each were only a foot off of the ground and off those healthy vines bloomed roses as red as blood. Only yesterday the flower beds were useless and barren, so what was happening here?!
"Dr. Lemuria...!" Adela ran forward and into me; tears were pouring down her cheeks.
"Adela, what's wrong?" I asked, still puzzling over the roses.
As my hands came to rest on her quivering shoulders, she looked up at me in horror, "I saw a pair of ghosts!"
"...what?" I breathed, looking around.
Turning, she pointed across the room, "They were there, walking together!"
"What did they look like?" I asked.
She shook her head, "I don't know!"
Damn. Taking her at arm-length distance, I looked in Adela's eyes, "It's all right. Calm down."
"You believe me, right?" She sniffled.
"Of course. Now, why don't you go to the commons building and calm down a bit?" I suggested.
My frightened intern nodded and walked off, still shaking. Walking around, I inspected the roses. What exactly could make roses grow this fast and in infertile soil too? Crouching down, I inspected the rare flowers; they really were beautiful. Their sweet fragrance wafted under my nose.
Like so many times now, a wave of pain caught me off guard making me reel backwards. Fortunately, it was a short attack and quite minor compared to ones I had before. Cautiously, I stood and continued to walk around the garden-well, that is until I noticed that I wasn't in the palace any more. Looking around I saw that I was in a park where rose bushes lined the cement walk way. It was nighttime and I wasn't alone.
Standing in front of me was a girl and young man whose ages were not too far from my own it seemed. They were walking hand and hand, admiring the roses.
"I had fun tonight," the girl smiled at what I guessed to be her significant other.
"So did I," he smiled back.
"Mamoru," her mood changed solemnly, "I had a nightmare last night...."
They stopped their stroll and Mamoru looked at her with concern, "What was it about?"
The girl bit her lower lip in thought while starring at the abundant roses, "We were at war and you died...."
He was silent and in his eyes I could see heartbreak when she looked up at him through silver tears, "You died in my arms, Mamo-chan."
"Usako," Mamoru whispered softly, "As long as the Rose blooms, I'll be by your side and love you."
As the two kissed, the vision began to fade. I didn't know whether or not to up chuck at the sentiments, but that's usually the view of someone single, right? Even so, my heart was beating fast and my face felt warm. A feeling I had never experienced before.... Anyways, I was soon back in the palace and the waves of pain began again but in turn, as soon as it had started, it ceased.
"Rena," a voice said, making me jump.
I turned to see Darren walking in the door, "Darren...."
"I heard that Adela saw something-" he stopped instantly, looking at the roses, "What the-"
"Yeah, I know." I said, taking hushed, deep breaths to calm the after affects of my attack.
"I don't believe it.... It's nearly impossible to grow roses," Darren breathed, then looked at me, "Hey, are you all right?"
"What?" I asked, slightly winded.
Inhaling sharply, he stepped back, "Well, not that I don't believe you can't-I mean, I didn't mean to be a nag earlier...."
"No, don't apologize. I was awful to you earlier," I sighed feeling ashamed, "I really didn't mean to snap at you. It's just that this is important to me, ya know?"
"No, I don't," he said quietly, almost cautiously.
That made me think. The truth of the matter was that he didn't know; I had never really told any one why this was my drive, my passion, my purpose. I had attacked him with what I thought was a half way good cause, but how was he to know? He didn't know any better than this was my job. Oh how much deeper it went than that.
Looking at my watch I saw that it was near lunch and my stomach was growling at me even though I had just finished a breakfast bar.
"Wanna grab something to eat?" I asked suddenly.
Trying to make the sudden transaction from the two topics, Darren stood there with a bewildered look on his face; it was a rare treat indeed to see the great Dr. Conway clueless. With a smirk on my face I made it easy on him by taking his arm and leading him out of the gardens. ~*~
"I was four when it happened," I sighed, poking at my food.
"What a way to go," he murmured thoughtlessly, then quickly added (a result of a glare, compliments of me), "I mean, he was a legend and all-"
Forgiving him instantly, I gave him a weak smile, "Yeah. That's why I want to solve this. It's important to me."
A thoughtful silence hung in the air. Darren gave in first, "I wasn't trying to take this away from you-okay, maybe when I first arrived and you yelled at me-" he paused, amused remembrance dancing in his eyes, "but I saw that determined passion in you eyes and knew that it was your purpose to solve Crystal Tokyo. Then when you started to have your attacks, I got worried and...."
His voice trailed off. Boy, this was awkward in a kind of pleasant way.... It was new and strange for me to have someone concerned like he was for me....
Trying to think of something to say I blurted out the first thing that came to mind, "Strange about those roses huh?"
He looked at me in surprise, then smiled, however, not without soft disappointment in his eyes. Fists in my lap clenching, I focused on the Ioian peas on my plate, "No, wait. That's not what I meant to say. It's strange having someone worry about me, so I don't know how to handle it. Though, I appreciate it greatly.... Thank you, Darren...."
"For the record, I'll always care-I mean worry about you, Rena Lemuria."
Knowing that my face was a red as the Demiosian beats that rested next to my Ioian peas (much more appetizing than they sound), I flashed him a quick smile, murmured a thanks, then forked a huge amount of food in my mouth. Chewing vigorously I gave David a questioning look as he walked up to our table with a look on his face that was a mix between puzzlement and excitement.
"Who planted the roses?" he asked.
Being occupied, Darren answered for me, "We have no idea. They just appeared overnight it seems."
"Whoa, that's wild. Well, what do we do about them? I can't work."
"What do you mean?" I asked after swallowing.
"Well, they're growing all over the place!" He exclaimed, "Some of them are even veining up the walls!"
Jaws dropping, eyes wide, Darren and I gazed at each other in shock. Only moments ago they were only inches off the ground with tiny buds speckled across the green vines. I could just see all of my knowledge, creditability, and training crumble away to nothing. I was at a complete loss and I voiced it when David showed us the rose jungle, "I don't understand!! What's going on!?"
Taking deep, ragged breaths I turned to Darren, "Well, what can you deduce from this, partner, because I haven't the damndest."
I waited for his response as vines began to creep their way up my legs ever so slowly.
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Yay! I have the next few chapters mapped out so I'll try to get them out before my Internet is cut off, but don't worry. My friends have the Internet so I'll just put everything on a disk and upload the chapters over there. Hehe. After all, what are friends for? ~Tokyo Rabbit
(4-12-03)
Unedited