Yes, I do realize that Mamoru hasn't appeared yet. He will eventually, I promise. . . –cough- -sweatdrop-
Happy New Year! As late as it may be. . . I started this chapter a while ago, but didn't have any time to work on it. Hope you enjoy ^_^
Katalia Meria – I agree with you entirely, with everything that you mentioned in your post. Though I know a lot of people can't imagine the Inners turning against Usagi, it would be an entirely possible situation. . . But mwahaha, I'm not giving away the future of this fic to anyone! -insert the dub version of the insane Professor Tomoe laugh here-
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Wounded Souls Never Heal – Chapter 4
. . .The sound of 3 pairs of feet, each wearing high-heeled shoes, echoed through the halls against the pitter-patter of the rain drops which fell on the outer side of the marble hall they ran through. A fourth figure, her slipper-bound feet making no sound against the smooth floor, was running desperately after them, her blonde hair flying out behind her like two long streamers.
"Please! Don't leave me!" She cried out as she tripped over the hem of her long nightgown, leaving her sprawled out on the floor as the three women continued to run. "Please. . ." The blonde whispered after them, tears streaming down her cheeks. . .
"Usagi-chan! Usagi, wake up you're having a nightmare!" Luna said, mewing as she moved back so she wouldn't be hit by the flailing Usagi. There was no response from the delicate girl, only more flailing.
"It's not the first time this has happened. . ." Michiru replied, putting her hand on Usagi's forehead, but drawing it back quickly. "It's a fever dream, she's been getting them a lot lately. I've told the nurses but they brushed it off as nothing." The aquamarine haired senshi was the only person who remained in the room, save for Usagi herself. Setsuna had left to take Hotaru home, and Haruka had gone to get both herself and Michiru something to eat.
"They shouldn't be doing that, should they?" Luna inquired, looking up at Michiru.
The addressed sighed, "I supposed they're common after accidents. . ." she replied, standing and walking to the adjoined washroom, coming back a few moments later with a small bowl of water which she set down on the table beside the hospital bed. She placed her hands into the bowl and gently squeezed the majority of the water out of a cloth, before folding it neatly and placing it on Usagi's burning forehead.
"I wish she had been able to leave for Christmas. . . Even being stuck in a wheelchair would have been better then sitting here." Luna murmured, looking up at Michiru, who sighed.
"It's the nurses decision, Luna. If they feel she isn't strong enough to leave the hospital, then that's how it will be. Whether we like it or not." The cat looked like she was going to object, but thought better of it as Haruka came back into the room.
"Another nightmare?" She asked, looking at Usagi. Michiru nodded and the blonde woman sighed. "What she needs is a visit from Selene's spirit. It would make her feel much more sure of herself, something she definitely needs." There was a chuckling at the end of her sentence, though it didn't come from Haruka, nor did it come from Michiru or Luna.
"What if Selene was present in body, rather than simply spirit?" Asked a strangely ethereal voice from near the window of the room. The voice was recognized instantly and two human women as well as a cat sunk into bows as they spun to face the woman who stood bathed in a soft moonlight, which entered through a slight gap in the blinds. "You may rise." She murmured after a moment.
"A pleasure to see you again, Majesty." Luna breathed, looking up at the Queen, who wore a saddened expression on her face as she surveyed her only daughter.
"And you as well, Luna my old friend." Came the reply from the woman's lips as she approached the bed. Michiru drew away respectively as Selenity laid a hand on her daughter's forehead, removing the damp cloth that had been covering it. Usagi's crescent moon flared in response to her mother's closeness and Selenity's own bead-trimmed birthmark glowed softly. "Tainted energy. . ." She whispered softly, causing Haruka to look at her in shock.
"Tainted? What do you mean, Majesty?" The wind senshi asked quickly, looking at her Princess and then back up at the Queen.
"Those who attacked her. . . Their energy was tainted. . . It is quite possible it was not done of their own free will, something I must admit that I hope to be true." Tears entered the Queen's eyes as she began to whisper her daughter's name. "Serenity. . . Wake up darling, we need to talk."
If the princess heard her name being called, she chose to ignore it and simply scrunch up her features instead, muttering something about Luna leaving her alone, and causing the queen to chuckle. "Open your eyes Serenity, I am not Luna." She replied. A moan came from the bed and Usagi's eyelids half fluttered open.
"I'm trying to sleep. . ." She muttered, before they closed again and she rolled over as much as the bed would allow. Haruka and Michiru had backed away by now, preferring to watch from a distance then actually attempt to wake the sleeping girl up. If the Queen wanted their help, she'd ask, and they weren't planning on interfering until that help was asked of them. In the meantime, it was rather humourous to watch the Queen attempting to reason with her half asleep daughter.
"Yes darling, I realize that, but I would like to talk to you." Selenity replied in response to the last thing the girl had said.
Another mutter came from the girl's mouth, but her head was so far into the covers that it would have been impossible to make out what she had said.
"Serenity, wake up." The woman all but ordered. There was more grumpy muttering from the girl in the bed, but she groggily opened her eyes.
"Yes, mother." Was the response as the girl sat up in bed. Obviously the Queen had seen though some sort of fake act the young woman had been putting up. The façade however, had not been discovered by the Outer senshi until that moment.
The princess' eyes watched her mother intently, waiting for the woman to speak. There had to be a reason why she had bothered to come, right?
"Serenity. . . You know that there is a reason behind what has happened, do you not?" The Queen asked, surveying her daughter. There were still some scars on the teenager's upper arms, but other then that, she seemed fine enough.
Usagi eyed the Queen, looking rather confused. "You mean. . .?" She began, looking somewhat startled at whatever she had realized.
The Queen simply nodded. "That I do, Serenity. It is time for you to leave this hospital room and get outside, do some investigating. You may be able to save them before it is too late. . ." She trailed off, leaving the Outer Senshi confused. What was the Queen talking about, and how did Usagi understand it without it being said aloud? Could it have had something to do with incidents prior to the occurrence that they hadn't yet been told about? It was indeed a possibility, something that they would have to question Usagi about if they wished to keep her safe from current threats.
"Will you stay?" Usagi whispered hopefully, causing the Queen to smile softly.
"That I will my darling," she replied.
A gasp came from Michiru's mouth, echoing around the suddenly silent room, "Majesty, if I may, where will you stay?" she asked softly.
The Queen turned to the shocked couple and chuckled, "I am sure I shall find something. . ."
"You can stay with us," Haruka muttered, "We have extra rooms. . ."
Selenity turned slightly, "I would hate to impose upon you two." She replied, kind lavender eyes sparkling in the dim light the hallway cast into the room.
Michiru shook her head, "Not at all, it would be an honour."
Selenity looked at her daughter, who nodded slightly, "It would be better," Usagi replied. "Because I can't think of anywhere else. . . My parents would find it strange." She giggled at the end, trying to imagine the look on her mother and father's face.
"For you Serenity," the Queen replied with a smile. "Well, I shall let you get some more sleep. We shall get you out of here first thing in the morning my daughter, I promise you."
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Finally! A new chapter and I won't have to write any more hospital scenes! Yes, I was getting as sick of it as you were, but it was important that I got all this stuff out. And, yes, I do realize that this chapter was shorter than the others, considering the amount of time it took me to write, but the next chapter will be extremely important, and probably longer, because we'll get to see where Mamoru stands on all this. . . Whoops ^_^
Reviews are welcomed!