Author's Note: Guess what I did!!! I went up to the big corporate
building where they keep all those stuffy business types who *owned* Sailor
Moon and took control of their headquarters!! Yes! That's right! Not
only was I in charge of all things directly related to Sailor Moon, I was
sitting in the penthouse-type office ordering people and writing more
fiction for you (you being all of the people who R&R my work--YOU GUYS ARE
THE ABSOLUTE BEST!!!!!!!! EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU!!!!!) Thanks for not
flaming me. I hope you enjoy the next chapter. Oh! By the way, I *did*
wake up and came to the conclusion that I *was* dreaming. *sigh* So I
DON'T own Sailor Moon, or anything of the like. Enjoy!!!! Don't forget to
R&R!
Marsh Angel: this is especially for you--thanks for the "persuasive" R&R!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
No lights were on in Shingo's bedroom save that of a single, beside candle that flickered softly with the gentle breathing inside of the small quarters. The sickly man lay passed out on his bed, exhausted from his examination. A blue-haired girl sat beside his unconscious form and watched the rise and fall of his chest; his breathing was weak.
The door opened quietly and made the young girl leap from the side of Shingo's bed; however, it was a familiar face that poked through the doorways. "Serenity! You frightened me!" a blush crept into her rose- ivory face. "I thought that you were your father."
"Hey, Ami-chan!" Serenity nodded before entering the room and closing the door. "I've brought Shingo's medicine. How. . . how is he doing? I mean, really?"
Ami's aqua eyes looked away from Serenity, which would have been enough of a response, but Ami knew the Serenity deserved more of an answer. "It's been nothing short of a miracle that he's lived this long, Serenity, but I do not think that he will recover. The fever--" she paused as the words froze in her throat. "The fever is spreading. I do not think that he will survive for another week. . . . I don't mean to dishearten you, Serenity, but this is the knowledge I have. The doctor said much the same thing to Lord Tsuniko this morning. I was instructed to stay here, because. . . no, never mind. I--"
"Because he has other patients who will live, right, Ami-chan? I understand that, I suppose. I mean, if you cannot do any more for someone, why should another person--someone with a chance, hope--suffer?" Serenity was shaking; even the doctor had abandoned Shingo. Yet, when she looked at the petite, blue-haired woman, Serenity understood that she was not alone in her pain. Of course, Ami would also be feeling the loss of Shingo-- maybe in more ways than Serenity. "I'm sorry, Ami-chan. It's just--even after all this time--to know that you can do nothing but sit and watch someone you love die. . . . I know that you understand, Ami-chan, and I'm so sorry. You're going to feel Shingo's loss just as much as I will, maybe more. I'm so sorry."
"No, please, Serenity. I should be able to do something, but I can't- -I'm so sorry," the tears in her aqua eyes quivered and bounced, but did not fall. "I will not give up, though. I will do everything in my power to heal Shingo, but--"
The man shifted in his bed and grabbed Ami's small hand in his bear- sized grip. The young woman jumped in surprise, but settled upon seeing the older man's root-beer eyes on her. She offered him a watery smile. He squeezed her hand gently. . .just as he had when they first met. . . .
**********************************FLASHBACK********************************* *******
Ami's short hair fluttered away from her face as she galloped her horse over the gravel-covered snow. Her father was in a fowl mood, cursing and swearing--knocking over what unbreakable objects he could find. The new recruits failed their first tests, and even though the war was over, the threat of civil disruption was still high. Ami ran her horse in the direction of Doctor Makai; he had been teaching her what he knew, despite her sex.
She was enjoying the cool wind on her face when her horse slipped on the uneven ground. The next few seconds were a blur, but Ami distinctly remembered her leg being trapped beneath the writhing animal. Her horse stood, slightly lame in its haunches, but was in better condition than Ami. In spite of all of her training, Ami did not know what to do with her malformed leg; it had twisted into an awkward angle not possible for a human without having suffered a severe break. She would have stayed on the path, freezing and yet not noticing because of the shock in her system, had Shingo not rode by.
He was wearing a cloak that shadowed his face and rode his white horse. Even then, Ami knew that he was something of a knight--her personal prince. He was amazingly calm as he looked over her leg. He devised a splint from the branches of a nearby tree and lifted her onto his horse, mindful of what pained her. Yet none of those chivalrous acts where what stuck out in her mind. Out of all that occurred during their meeting, Ami remembered the moment before he lifted her from the ground in his arms that were then strong and healthy. She remembered how he had squeezed her hand gently, softly--an unspoken promise that swore that he would forever be with her, be there to help her no matter what happened. The wind had picked up in that one blissful moment and blown Shingo's hood from his face. Their eyes met, and with both their faces uncovered and disclosed, they smiled and understood each other--understood that they were intended for each other.
***********************************END FLASHBACK**********************************
Shingo squeezed Ami's hand again. "Amiko, don't cry. . . please? It's okay. . . . You're doing your best."
The poor girl could only shrug off his comments and turn her face from his innocent, searching eyes. "Shingo-chan, I--"
"No, no more tears," he touched her cheek briefly with his fingertips, colouring her face pink and catching her tears. "We knew that this would come. It's okay. . . . It's okay. Be strong for me, Amiko? Don't be sad, not now. I'm still here, and I'll stay with you for as long as you need me."
Serenity wished she wasn't in the room. It wasn't that she was repulsed by their affection for each other; on the contrary, their love gave her hope and joy. But in this moment, she felt like an invader. She knew that both loved her very much and that neither one would ask her to leave. However, she did not want to ruin their time together; instead of drawing attention to herself by moving from the room, she stood--somewhat awkwardly--and waited for them to acknowledge her again.
Long moments dragged by with only the occasion hushed murmur breaking the otherwise impenetrable silence. Ami finally looked up and smiled at Serenity, her aqua eyes mildly wet, but drier than before. Shingo had lapsed into another round of unconsciousness. "I finally figured it out, Serenity--why Shingo has been living all this time," Ami confided quietly. "It's my fault. He's been suffering because of me. . . so he wouldn't break any promises to me."
Serenity came and sat next to Ami on the foot of the bed; she didn't know what to say. "I don't understand, Ami-chan."
Her friend's lip quivered as she spoke her next few words. "I don't think he's going to wake up again, Serenity. I-I told him that I would be alright. I told him that he could sleep and that I would take care of myself. I--" she burst into fresh tears, her quiet sobs wracking her entire body.
Serenity ducked close and hugged her friend. "It will be alright, Ami- chan. Just wait, you'll see."
"You don't understand," she whispered between sobs. "I released him!"
The blond hair girl touched one of her ordangos as she thought, a habit she had picked up as a child. She understood what Ami was saying; she had no idea how to respond, though. "It will turn out well in the end, Ami-chan. Even if Shingo does pass on--" her own voice threatened to break; she could not imagine life without her charismatic brother, "he will be well, Ami- chan. And so will you. Why don't you sleep in here, tonight. That way, if he does wake up, you will be able to speak to him, be able to give him your strength and love. I think he'll need that for where he will be crossing."
Ami merely nodded her head, too exhausted to complain. Serenity dragged a fleece blanket from the closet across the room and set the blue-haired woman in a chair next to Shingo's bed. Her aqua eyes were already beginning to fade into unfocussed orbs, but she did manage to smile at Serenity. Serenity dipped her head and tiptoed from the room, closing the door behind her quietly. Once outside of the darkened quarters, Serenity hoisted her skirts above her knees and ran to her room one floor above. Her bare feet echoed dully in the empty hall.
Marsh Angel: this is especially for you--thanks for the "persuasive" R&R!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
No lights were on in Shingo's bedroom save that of a single, beside candle that flickered softly with the gentle breathing inside of the small quarters. The sickly man lay passed out on his bed, exhausted from his examination. A blue-haired girl sat beside his unconscious form and watched the rise and fall of his chest; his breathing was weak.
The door opened quietly and made the young girl leap from the side of Shingo's bed; however, it was a familiar face that poked through the doorways. "Serenity! You frightened me!" a blush crept into her rose- ivory face. "I thought that you were your father."
"Hey, Ami-chan!" Serenity nodded before entering the room and closing the door. "I've brought Shingo's medicine. How. . . how is he doing? I mean, really?"
Ami's aqua eyes looked away from Serenity, which would have been enough of a response, but Ami knew the Serenity deserved more of an answer. "It's been nothing short of a miracle that he's lived this long, Serenity, but I do not think that he will recover. The fever--" she paused as the words froze in her throat. "The fever is spreading. I do not think that he will survive for another week. . . . I don't mean to dishearten you, Serenity, but this is the knowledge I have. The doctor said much the same thing to Lord Tsuniko this morning. I was instructed to stay here, because. . . no, never mind. I--"
"Because he has other patients who will live, right, Ami-chan? I understand that, I suppose. I mean, if you cannot do any more for someone, why should another person--someone with a chance, hope--suffer?" Serenity was shaking; even the doctor had abandoned Shingo. Yet, when she looked at the petite, blue-haired woman, Serenity understood that she was not alone in her pain. Of course, Ami would also be feeling the loss of Shingo-- maybe in more ways than Serenity. "I'm sorry, Ami-chan. It's just--even after all this time--to know that you can do nothing but sit and watch someone you love die. . . . I know that you understand, Ami-chan, and I'm so sorry. You're going to feel Shingo's loss just as much as I will, maybe more. I'm so sorry."
"No, please, Serenity. I should be able to do something, but I can't- -I'm so sorry," the tears in her aqua eyes quivered and bounced, but did not fall. "I will not give up, though. I will do everything in my power to heal Shingo, but--"
The man shifted in his bed and grabbed Ami's small hand in his bear- sized grip. The young woman jumped in surprise, but settled upon seeing the older man's root-beer eyes on her. She offered him a watery smile. He squeezed her hand gently. . .just as he had when they first met. . . .
**********************************FLASHBACK********************************* *******
Ami's short hair fluttered away from her face as she galloped her horse over the gravel-covered snow. Her father was in a fowl mood, cursing and swearing--knocking over what unbreakable objects he could find. The new recruits failed their first tests, and even though the war was over, the threat of civil disruption was still high. Ami ran her horse in the direction of Doctor Makai; he had been teaching her what he knew, despite her sex.
She was enjoying the cool wind on her face when her horse slipped on the uneven ground. The next few seconds were a blur, but Ami distinctly remembered her leg being trapped beneath the writhing animal. Her horse stood, slightly lame in its haunches, but was in better condition than Ami. In spite of all of her training, Ami did not know what to do with her malformed leg; it had twisted into an awkward angle not possible for a human without having suffered a severe break. She would have stayed on the path, freezing and yet not noticing because of the shock in her system, had Shingo not rode by.
He was wearing a cloak that shadowed his face and rode his white horse. Even then, Ami knew that he was something of a knight--her personal prince. He was amazingly calm as he looked over her leg. He devised a splint from the branches of a nearby tree and lifted her onto his horse, mindful of what pained her. Yet none of those chivalrous acts where what stuck out in her mind. Out of all that occurred during their meeting, Ami remembered the moment before he lifted her from the ground in his arms that were then strong and healthy. She remembered how he had squeezed her hand gently, softly--an unspoken promise that swore that he would forever be with her, be there to help her no matter what happened. The wind had picked up in that one blissful moment and blown Shingo's hood from his face. Their eyes met, and with both their faces uncovered and disclosed, they smiled and understood each other--understood that they were intended for each other.
***********************************END FLASHBACK**********************************
Shingo squeezed Ami's hand again. "Amiko, don't cry. . . please? It's okay. . . . You're doing your best."
The poor girl could only shrug off his comments and turn her face from his innocent, searching eyes. "Shingo-chan, I--"
"No, no more tears," he touched her cheek briefly with his fingertips, colouring her face pink and catching her tears. "We knew that this would come. It's okay. . . . It's okay. Be strong for me, Amiko? Don't be sad, not now. I'm still here, and I'll stay with you for as long as you need me."
Serenity wished she wasn't in the room. It wasn't that she was repulsed by their affection for each other; on the contrary, their love gave her hope and joy. But in this moment, she felt like an invader. She knew that both loved her very much and that neither one would ask her to leave. However, she did not want to ruin their time together; instead of drawing attention to herself by moving from the room, she stood--somewhat awkwardly--and waited for them to acknowledge her again.
Long moments dragged by with only the occasion hushed murmur breaking the otherwise impenetrable silence. Ami finally looked up and smiled at Serenity, her aqua eyes mildly wet, but drier than before. Shingo had lapsed into another round of unconsciousness. "I finally figured it out, Serenity--why Shingo has been living all this time," Ami confided quietly. "It's my fault. He's been suffering because of me. . . so he wouldn't break any promises to me."
Serenity came and sat next to Ami on the foot of the bed; she didn't know what to say. "I don't understand, Ami-chan."
Her friend's lip quivered as she spoke her next few words. "I don't think he's going to wake up again, Serenity. I-I told him that I would be alright. I told him that he could sleep and that I would take care of myself. I--" she burst into fresh tears, her quiet sobs wracking her entire body.
Serenity ducked close and hugged her friend. "It will be alright, Ami- chan. Just wait, you'll see."
"You don't understand," she whispered between sobs. "I released him!"
The blond hair girl touched one of her ordangos as she thought, a habit she had picked up as a child. She understood what Ami was saying; she had no idea how to respond, though. "It will turn out well in the end, Ami-chan. Even if Shingo does pass on--" her own voice threatened to break; she could not imagine life without her charismatic brother, "he will be well, Ami- chan. And so will you. Why don't you sleep in here, tonight. That way, if he does wake up, you will be able to speak to him, be able to give him your strength and love. I think he'll need that for where he will be crossing."
Ami merely nodded her head, too exhausted to complain. Serenity dragged a fleece blanket from the closet across the room and set the blue-haired woman in a chair next to Shingo's bed. Her aqua eyes were already beginning to fade into unfocussed orbs, but she did manage to smile at Serenity. Serenity dipped her head and tiptoed from the room, closing the door behind her quietly. Once outside of the darkened quarters, Serenity hoisted her skirts above her knees and ran to her room one floor above. Her bare feet echoed dully in the empty hall.