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Chapter Five: Nightmares
~Tokyo Rabbit
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I was tired. Purplish bags resided under my eyes, my muscles screamed exhaustion every time I moved, sudden dizzy spells would hit from my deprivation. Sleep, it seemed, would always dance just out of my reach here lately; over a week now I hadn't been able to get any sleep what so ever. Nightmares plagued my dreams where a thick mist would roll over and from it mournful voices called out to me. The storms outside raged inside my visions, mottling the voices so much that I couldn't grasp a single word, and every night visions of the Earth's Moon haunted me.
Currently, I was doing some brushwork on some glyphs on an obelisk. Wiping sweat from my sand cover brow, I looked up at the blue sky and spotted the ever-present, but always ignored silver speck. It was the Moon. After the Royal Family disappeared, the Moon derailed from its close orbit around the Earth. Every year it drifted farther into the reaches of space while our top scientists watched helplessly.
You see, just like the Earth at night, the Moon is highly instable and impossible to land on. Even our attempts to give it an artificial trajectory have failed countless times. Also, here's a little tidbit for you: when Princess Serenity learned how to use her Crystal, she restored the Moon to its former glory. So, the answers to all of our questions could be on that rouge satellite and it's kingdom.
To me, it seemed like a lost puppy searching for its master.... The thought made me smile.
"Hey there," a voice like velvet almost purred.
Placing my tiny brushes down, I stood to meet the sultry gaze of my partner. I smiled, "Hi."
In the past week (along with my inability to sleep) I have developed a nice little habit-every night Darren Conway and I would have dinner together in the Commons building where conversation would be a constant companion. Mind you, it wasn't anything like a restaurant in a city, just quiet evenings of happiness.
Darren peered closely at me, "Are you okay? You don't look so good...."
Putting on my best smile I responded, "Sure! One hundred percent!"
I lied and oh how I hated it. Gaining my new found friend in finding the softer side to Dr. Conway, I realized I rather die than make him worry, which was something he did constantly. I knew I looked sick, feeling worse than that, but I would never let him know that.
"Well, would you like to come to the gardens with me?" Darren asked.
"The gardens? Why?" I asked, dreading another surprise.
"The specialists are here."
That's when I noticed a tall lanky man with green hair and a short woman with black hair standing behind Darren. The roses in the gardens had grown so wildly that it made work in there impossible. As it is illegal to harm the rare flower, we called in a couple of gardeners (well, Darren called them Botanical Scientists, but gardener is easier to say) to carefully extract the endless tangle.
"Oh! Sure!" I chirped, brushed off my dirty hand on my pants, and then stuck it out to greet the two new comers, "Hello. My name is Rena Lemuria, Dr. Conway's partner. It's a pleasure to meet you."
They returned the greetings introducing themselves as Dr. Trx and Dr. Demetra. Darren and I lead them into the cool shade of the palace. However, when we came to the double doors that would lead to the gardens, we stopped in unison. Through the crack between the two doors and the bottom grew healthy green vines with small buds as red as freshly drawn blood.
"A-and you say that they started to grow sometime last week?" Dr. Trx tried to find his voice.
"Nine days to be exact," I clarified.
After recovering from their shock, the two began to open the doors carefully and soon after they disappeared into the jungle after unpacking their complicated looking equipment.
"Fascinating!" Came Dr. Trx's excited exclamation, "These roses have no thorns!"
Looking carefully, we noticed that the roses, indeed, had no thorns.
"I thought all roses had thorns," I remarked.
"That's what makes it fascinating," Dr. Demetra's head appeared from the brush for a brief moment before disappearing again.
Shortly after, I returned to my work at the bottom of the towering structure of crystal. I worked my aching muscles hard underneath the blazing sun-an attempt to forget the strange sight I had just seen.
Questions upon questions were piling up in my mind and I was sick and tired of it. Never were there answers following those questions, just another one left unsolved. When I seemed to be moving forward in solving this mystery, another roadblock appeared stopping me.
As the sun dipped further into the sky, the two botanical specialists marched out of the place with several bubble-like contraptions following them. I suspected the rose bushes were contained inside. They loaded their things and took in their jet to transport the flowers to Mercury I suspected; the planet's tropic weather made it the ideal place to raise the plants.
Sun dipping even further, I stood on shaky legs and walked towards the Commons building where I would have my routine dinner with Darren. As the door slid open and shut again, I could sense almost immediately that something was wrong. Looking around I could see that the workers were not on the exercise equipment, at the bar, or de-stressing on the other entertaining facilities provided, but crowded around a single table. I spotted Darren among them and he didn't look happy.
Slipping next to him, I peered over heads to look at what they were so aptly paying attention to.... It was a television.
"-- Nxy, Kyxy's largest moon, reports that they last had contact with the shuttle around 7: 45 y.m. Flox time. Authorities, making assumptions that no passengers of the commercial jet survived that more real, have found no remains. King Ambassador of Kyxy assures the public that they--"
And the screen blipped off. Who ever was holding it couldn't take any more, along with several others.
Everyone began to disperse. I looked up a Darren, "So, did it just disappear?"
A sad smile spread across his face, "That's what they're saying."
We sat down in a corner boot secluded from everyone else. Silence took over giving my mind room to wander. It drifted to the news report. Deep in my mind there was a nagging sensation that this was somehow familiar and alarming. It was telling me that the authorities were missing something.
Peace had been a constant among planets that joined the Silver Court (all but rural, undeveloped stars) but everything was slowly falling apart. Like I've said before, without the Royal Family to guide and protect the Silver Court, we were slowly losing our ways.
Darren brought me back from my thoughts when he placed a warm hand on mine, smiling, "I'll be back."
Getting up he walked over to the kitchen's vast window.
'Geez, only Darren Conway can be that dirty and still look that good,' I thought amused. Only moments later did I chide myself.
He returned with our dinners. Light dabbles of conversation visited us randomly and almost awkwardly as we ate.
"Hey, you guys better be leaving here pretty soon. The storm is starting," an intern walked up to our table, warning us.
We nodded in acknowledgement. Minutes later we placed our dishes in the kitchen and walked towards the front door arms draped lazily around each other's waists. I was too tired to contemplate about our newfound closeness.
When we reached the door, a clicking was heard. We looked at one another in surprise but nothing compared to the feeling in my stomach when Darren pressed the door panel and instead of opening, it gave us a warning sound.
"Its-locked," Darren muttered.
"What?" I pushed the button and got the same response.
Each door on each building that reached outside locked automatically after the winds outside reached a certain speed, insuring safety. They wouldn't unlock until the winds died down. Following that thought, another hit me in a sickening way. The night I had seen Neo-Queen Serenity in the gardens, I had opened the door without difficulty (and thought). So it seemed the influence of the ghosts reached far beyond the castle. Greeeeeeeeeeaaaaaat..... That was sarcasm if you couldn't tell.
"It looks like we're the only ones here," Darren's voice brought me back to reality.
Looking around I saw that he was right. Everyone had left in enough time to get to their quarters safely.
"Well, let's find some cots to sleep on," my partner said and lead the way to a closet in the back.
Walking after him, I began to sweat slightly. Maybe this was the perfect opportunity to dwell on our new 'closeness.'
Another safety requirement; each main building was to hold several emergency supplies for an, duh, emergency. Those items included cots, blankets, first aid kits, etc. However, when we reached the closet and opened it, we only found two pillows and a blanket. Unbelieving, we searched the place with a fine comb and found no other supplies.
"Well, we could sleep on a pool table," Darren said nonchalantly, as if he didn't notice the precarious situation. '... we could sleep...?' Well, I was nothing like him so I did see the precarious situation.
He turned to me, "What do you think?"
It was then that I saw the amusement in his eyes and knew that he did see the precarious situation. Damn it! Who ever came up with the word 'precarious' any ways?!
"Uh, sure," I squeaked.
After we turned off the lights and climbed upon the make-shift bed, I comforted my shot nerves with the thought that if Darren tried anything that I would give him a dose of pain, compliments of my hobby: kick boxing.
Settling down, I began to think that he wouldn't try anything until I felt him move next to me.
"Good night Rena," he whispered in a way that made me want to melt and drain into the table pockets.
Then, much to my shock, I felt a pair of warm lips cover mine in a blissful way I have often heard described as a kiss. It was a brief one, but oh so lovely.
"Good night, Darren," I replied before drifting into a wondrous slumber.
*~
I felt cold and clammy as a mist rolled in over my vision, like so many dreams before, and just like dreams before, I could see only shadowy figures and stars.
'We have to go, love,' I turned to see a figure of a man talking to me, 'She'll be along soon.'
'I cannot leave here without her,' a woman responded. Only seconds later did I realize that it was I talking.
My voice grew a degree colder, 'I'm surprised you would even suggest such a thing....'
He was about to respond but a third party came onto the scene, 'Everything is in order. Good luck.'
And that was the last I heard of their conversation as I began to call into the darkness, 'Usagi! Chibi-Usa, where are you?!'
I was growing frantic-- or rather the woman was-- when the explosions heard faintly in the distance grew louder as if coming closer to our location.
'Usagi!'
No answer. My heart was slamming against my chest. However, a few moments later the shadowy figure of a young woman ran towards us.
'There you are!' I breathed, thanking the heavens, 'We have to leave now.'
The girl sounded solemn, 'I'm not going....'
'What?!' It was the man's turn to become frantic, 'You must come with us!'
She smiled sadly; I couldn't see it, but sensed it instead.
'Take care of her Daddy,' and before either of us could respond, she shoved us off whatever we had been standing on before.
Falling down into the darkness I could see her reaching down to us from the ledge, tears pouring down her face, 'Elision awaits....'
Stretching my own hand out, I screeched into the stars with all of my sorrowful feeling as we plunged into a white light, 'Noooo!'
Sitting up, I looked around me frantically only to find green tables basking in soft, amber light around me. I was in the Commons I soon realized.
I pressed a clammy palm to my cold, sweaty forehead; an attempt to bring the rest of my dazed consciousness back to reality. When I felt I had a good enough grasp on this world, I noticed a certain warm fluttery feeling down in my stomach. Looking down I realized it was an effect caused by a bronzed, well-shaped arm was draped across my middle.
"Erk!" In a flash I was on the floor, rubbing my now smarting rear.
Two hands curled over the side and a raven head followed.
"What'd you doing down there?" Darren yawned.
Standing, I looked at my watch and realized that the day would begin soon, "Help me put these things away before someone comes in and thinks something."
"Think something?" He asked innocently; it was the smirk and amusement dancing in his eyes gave him away.
Yanking the pillows out from underneath his head I sulked off but was rewarded when I heard him say 'ow' over my shoulder. Opening the closet door, I couldn't believe my eyes, "AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"
My partner came bolting around the corner and stopped short in front of me, "What-"
His voice trailed off as I stepped aside to show him the fully stocked closet with folding cots, blankets, and pillows galore.
"S-someone must have come in," he stuttered, paling noticeably.
We searched the place and no one could have even come in for the door was still locked. There was a clicking sound. Okay, the door WAS locked.
Walking to my quarters, I promised myself that if one more strange thing happened I would scream my head off. Coming upon my door, a shadow loomed over me. Turning around, there was Darren only breaths away from me. What did he want?
"What?" I asked, trying not to smile.
"I'd thought I'd just say good morning," he said in a sultry voice.
As he leaned closer, the means in which he meant became apparent, "Darren, we can't! Everyone is starting to come outside!"
"So, I'll make it quick," he murmured and his head dipped down.
Again I experienced a little piece of heaven they call a kiss, and oh what a liar! It wasn't quick at all. I felt all of my energy drain in a pleasant way but when he pulled away it made me happy to hear that he was just as breathless as I, "Good morning."
"Good morning," I breathed.
"I'll see you later," he grinned.
I watched him walk off to his quarters while my hand fumbled across my door panel. Before stumbling inside I gave the workers that witnessed our... uh... whatever you want to call it, a look that stated it was in their best intentions to forget what they had seen.
Finally alone to think, I stepped inside the shower and let the cool water run over my body, washing away layers of sand. This was something new and strange to me. I never really allowed myself time to have a relationship. I was always studying hard to reach this place. Ooo! I feel a flashback coming on! I have no doubt in my mind that you would rather have that than be forced to listen to me wash my naked body in seductive ways. No doubt what so ever.
*~
'Rena, don't you want to come outside and play?' Cyndi asked.
I looked up briefly at the girl from my piles of text pilots, 'No.'
'What are you studying for any ways?' Another girl asked.
'I have to solve the Royal Family's mystery,' I stated, then added mentally, [And find out why Daddy died.]
That earned me a couple of snickers from the other girls.
'Well,' Cyndi shrugged, 'Good luck!'
The girls ran off, leaving me to my studies. My eyes narrowed. It wasn't like I was stupid; I knew what they say about me. Poor Rena lost her daddy. Poor Rena has no friends. Poor Rena thinks she can find the Royal Family.
I would. No matter what. I would solve the mystery.
~*
Stepping out of the shower I fluffed my gold hair in a towel. It made me happy to be able to work on this project, and the possibility of working on it with someone special by my side. Eee! All this talk about Darren was making my face red.
Feeling a renewed sense of determination, I got dressed in my usual black tank top, tan cargo pants, and black boots (all of which clung to my body in ways I was just beginning to appreciate). Then pulled my waist-length hair back into a single braid.
The palace was cool inside and not to many workers were in the rooms. In fact the garden was empty... but wait. Why did I still smell roses...?!
True to my promise I made this morning, my lungs got a good workout, "AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
In the flower beds grew new rose bushes that came to the middle of my shins. Their sweet fragrance wafted under my nose and with it a frighteningly strong feeling that made my stomach churn sickly. The feeling was like a frantic yearning for something forgotten. Before I could think on it further than that, my vision went hazy and with one skull-crushing wave of pain, everything went black.
Drifting softly into a void, I opened my eyes slowly. For a moment, I could have sworn I saw a woman with chilling blue eyes, but her figure faded into the black endlessness. In her place came indescribable glyphs radiating an eerie blue light, a bright contrast to the emotionless pit.
A warm voice came out of that pit and wrapped around me like a blanket, 'Rena.... Rena, wake up.'
My eyes fluttered open in response while my consciousness was slow to follow. My vision cleared slowly to reveal a concerned-looking Darren hovering over me, "Finally...."
Instinctively, my hand came up to my head to find a large, tender bump on the back of my skull, "Where am I?"
"In the gardens. You passed out," he explained, helping me up slowly.
"Did I?" I squinted then it hit me. The scent of roses had indeed knocked me out.
"Rena," Darren's mood seemed to darken a few shades, "Have you been having headaches?"
No, don't make me answer that. I turned from him and crouched down to inspect the roses. Wrapping a hand around a vine, I focused on the petals of velvet, "Why do you think they keep growing?"
"Rena, answer me."
With how hard I was squeezing the lifeline of the flower, I was surprised it hadn't withered away, "Yes...."
"That's why you've looked so sickly lately."
"That's only part of it.... Every night I have nightmares and I've had strange visions of people making promises."
"Why didn't you tell me?" He didn't sound at all happy.
"I didn't want to make you worry...."
I could hear him pacing, "So you thought you'd just keep it from me? Rena, how do you think that makes me feel? Seeing you look the way you do, pale and weak, and you not telling me why is suppose to put me at ease?"
I couldn't answer that. I knew it was wrong, but this was the exact response I had been dreading.
He sighed, "Just... go home Rena...."
My head snapped up, standing I whirled around on him, "What?"
"I'm having you deported," he stated firmly, eyes like slate.
"You can't do this! You know what this means to me!"
"Rena, you're ill. It's obvious."
"That doesn't matter! I can handle it!"
"Listen to yourself! I'm doing this for your own good!"
His head snapped back as my palm met it in one swift motion. He looked at me in shock, touched his hand to his face, and then pulled back to inspect his fingers. They were covered in blood. It wasn't his....
Looking down I saw red. My hand was completely covered in blood. But why...!
"The roses," I said bordering a whisper.
Looking down, we saw the once harmless vines were now had every centimeter coved in thorns so sharp they almost gleamed in the sun light. The one that I had just been hold was covered in my freshly drawn blood.
"... they have thorns."
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TR- Okay, this version was only 7 pages. Gomen nasai! But this one is probably better. Probably..... REVIEW! NOW!
3-21-03
(Unedited)