Hello Minna, Here is another journey for you. I hope you enjoy it. Please R&R
Usagi is having nightmares that Mamoru is going to kill her. On her way to talk to Mamoru she collapses and ends up trapped in a nightmare. What is going on? Read on to find out. Please R&R
Author's Notes : 'Denotes People's Thoughts'
A couple of big THANK YOU'S go out here. Yunyin with the idea's and A GIANT THANK YOU! for Nanami Sakura for Beta Reading and help in choosing a title! Girl you are wonderful :)
Now on to the story.
She'll Never Know How Much I Love Her
Prolouge
"Odango...I am coming." Usagi smiled to hear Mamo-chan's voice. She glanced up and down the street. It was a beautiful day for a date with Mamoru.
People were coming and going but she did not see him anywhere. Standing in front of the Crown Arcade she wondered how she was able to hear his voice.
"It is almost time..." He chuckled and left the statement unfinished. She turned in a full circle trying to locate where his voice was coming from. All of the colors blurred as she whirled around. Dizziness overwhelmed her and she laughed.
"Where are you...Hurry up so we can get going." Yelling she hoped he could hear. She noticed that people around her weren't paying any attention.
Sensing something odd she stopped and really looked around. Everyone had vanished and she stood alone on an empty street. The sun had just wandered behind dark clouds when Mamo-chan's voice answered her...
"I think you misunderstood me. I am coming Usagi...to take you to the depths of hell before I kill you."...
Chapter One
Three days later...
Usagi really didn't like storms but she struggled to continue. 'I have to talk to Mamo-chan. I have to know I am not crazy! It cannot wait. The dreams are getting stronger and I need someone with a logical mind.' Taking a deep breath she slowly counted. "One...two...one...two." Watching her feet move forward she kept up the count pushing herself to ignore the thunder and lightning. Her hair was plastered down around her slight form and the wind tried to push her back. Heading for Mamo-chan's apartment, she ignored the chills that racked her body.
'Deep breaths remain calm. I can do this. I must be getting close.' She tried to see through the dark gloomy fog that hung everywhere. Rain and tears running down her face did not help her vision much. She swiped at her face trying to clear the mess away. A sudden violent "BOOM" shook the ground around her as she was blinded by the flash of lightning. Letting out a small shriek of terror she quickly covered her eyes. She never saw the crack in the sidewalk that sent her flying.
Landing with a bone jarring intensity she did not want to move. Feeling the concrete sidewalk smooth against her cheek, she let the cold seep into her. At the moment it seemed wonderfully cool and refreshing against her hot flesh. She lay there letting the storm rage around her and just floated deliriously...
Haruka held the wheel in strong slim fingers. Guiding the car easily though the bad weather she kept her eyes on the road ahead. Ignoring the bursts of lightning, she was focused on getting home. Out of the corner of her eye she caught a flash of something on the sidewalk. 'That looked like a body!' Sighing in resignation she pulled over to check what she had seen. 'I really don't have the time for this. Michiru is probably worrying about me being out here.' Climbing out of the car she grabbed the umbrella and opened it quickly. 'There is no use getting soaked if I don't have too.' Smiling grimly she stalked back towards whatever had caught her attention. She was still several steps away when to her surprise she saw sodden streaks of hair lying on the sidewalk.
'Kami-sama it really is a person.' Upon stepping closer she realized exactly who it was. "Kitten. Kami-sama." She strode forward quickly and bent over. Usagi lay shivering splayed out on the sidewalk. Seeing that Usagi was in no condition to help herself, Haruka easily rolled her limp body over and scooped the girl up into her arms. Hurrying back to the car, she opened the passenger door and deposited Usagi on the seat. Slamming the door she ran around the car and climbed in. Struggling to close the umbrella she quickly won and threw it on the floorboard.
"Kitten what were you thinking?" Glancing over at Usagi she noticed the paleness of her complexion and the flush upon her cheeks. Usagi glanced back at her dazed. She sat shivering with her teeth clicking together.
"M..M..Mamoru is trying to kill me! You have to help me." Usagi looked frantically around before slipping out of it again. Her eyes slipped closed and her head dropped forward.
"Ah Kitten You know I would do anything for you." She stared out the window watching the road closely to get them safely to her apartment. With no more sound from Usagi, Haruka let her thoughts wander. 'What is going on? Who can I trust other than Michiru?' Arriving at their apartment she parked in her space. Running around to the other side of the car she scooped up Usagi and proceeded to carry her to the elevator.
When the doors swished open she stalked in and used the umbrella to push her floor. Usagi snuggled into her warmth soaking her in the process. With a small smile Haruka just took it in stride. Finally landing on her floor the doors opened again and Haruka hurried to her apartment. She used her hand under Usagi's knees to turn the handle.
'Thank Kami it's not locked.' Walking in she kicked it closed behind her.
"Michiru are you here?" She yelled loudly to catch her attention. Walking across the front room she headed for the spare bedroom as she continued yelling. "We have an unexpected quest and I really need you now." Walking down the hallway Haruka listened for an answer. Michiru stuck her head out of the bathroom door on the right.
"Just a second I am soaked..." She stopped in the middle of her sentence seeing Usagi in Haruka's arms. "What did you do?" Giving Haruka an odd look and dropping the towel she walked over and opened the door for Haruka.
"I didn't do anything. Michiru I promise! I found her lying on the sidewalk in her current condition." Michiru smiled.
"I know that but I had to tease you a bit." Michiru surveyed the room. The twin bed was across the room against the wall.The cream comforter with gold trim lay nicely setting off the cream carpet. She moved the gold pillows tossing them over to the chair by the vanity on the right side of the room.
Laying a hand on Usagi's forehead Michiru felt the heated flesh. "She is burning up with fever." She pulled Usagi's shoes off. "We have to get her out of these wet clothes first." Haruka helped as best as possible and they quickly divested her of her clothes. Haruka held her while Michiru fixed the bed. Pulling the comforter back she took time to plump the pillows "Okay lay her down gently." Haruka did as she was directed and they pulled the covers up, tucking Usagi in like a small child.
"There's more Michiru. We need to talk. Can you make some tea?" Michru nodded and left the room. Haruka looked down at Usagi. "Kitten, I don't know what is going on but I vow that you are safe here until we figure it out." She leaned over and dropped a gentle kiss on Usagi's forhead. Running her hand through her short hair she sighed. Walking across the room she left the door open in case Uagi woke up and headed for the kitchen.
Standing at the counter Michiru waited for the whistle of the tea pot. Smiling gently she remembered the look on Haruka's face as she came in. She knew how much Haruka loved the young girl lying in the spare bedroom. 'Haruka would never admit it but it's there. Other's just choose not to see how much she loves Usagi.' She was still smiling when Haruka walked in and sat haphazardly in a chair.
"It's almost ready. So what is going on?" The teapot chose that moment to announce its prsence and Michiru pulled it off the burner. Grabbing two cups she waited patiently for Haruka to gather her thoughts as she prepared their cups. Turning around she carried the cups over to the table and sat next to Haruka. Setting one of the cups in front of her she picked up the other one.
Haruka sat looking perplexed. "Well when I put Kitten in the car, she seemed lucid for a moment and you won't believe what she told me. I am not sure I believe it. Her fear was real enough but I just don't know." She paused running her hand through her hair again. "She said that Mamoru is trying to kill her."
Gasping in shock Michiru looked as stunned as Haruka felt. "Are you sure that is what she meant?"
Haruka shook her head. "I don't know what she meant she just said, Mamoru is trying to kill me. Please, you have to help me." A thoughtful silence followed her statement as both women pondered Usagi's statement. They sat comfortably sipping the tea pondering the situation.
"In the meantime I don't think we should tell anyone that Usagi is here. We'll let the rest of them play at finding her as we figure this mess out." Haruka steepled her fingers as she spoke. Michiru nodded her agreement. Standing she stretched setting her hand on the still sitting Haruka she offered comfort.
"I'd better go check on her.You know we might have to seek medical help?" Michiru watched Haruka's reaction to her statement.
Nodding she agreed. "I know but I don't have to be happy about it. It would be much easier to just hide her here." Michiru threw her a sad look and nodded...
Usagi found herself running. The densely lit path she followed through the darkness meandering here and there seemed endless. She was running to the voice, no from it. 'No wait the voice is Mamo-chan. He wouldn't hurt me.'
"Baka, I will kill you. You can't run fast enough or far enough." That voice was so familiar to her. "For that matter, you can't run anywhere!"
She stopped in her tracks. 'What is going on? It sounds like Mamo-chan but the voice is hard and unforgiving, evil.' Chilling laughter floated all around her and it shook her so bad she took off running again...
Michiru wandered into the room. Usagi lay still shivering under the blanket. Michiru approached the bed and laid her hand on Usagi's head. She was burning up, it seemed as though she was hotter than before.
" 'Ruka do you know where the thermometer is? Usagi is hotter and I have to take her temperature." She waited a moment praying Haruka remembered where they had last put it.
"Check the bathroom medicine cabinet. We put it in there the last time you thought you had a fever." The comment carried a lovingly teasing quality as it floated from the kitchen. She walked into the bathroom blushing softly. She knew exactly when Haruka was refering to. Reaching the medicine cabinet she opened and found it right away.
Pulling it out she quickly soaked the end in rubbing alcohol. Shaking it down she went back to the bedroom. Pulling the chair over by the bed she sat quietly. Hoping Usagi didn't wake up frightened Michiru pulled the blanket back and put the thermometer in the crook of her arm.
Pulling Usagi's arm tight against her body, she glanced at her watch. Three minutes and counting. Keeping her eyes on her watch she glanced occasionally at the thermometer and watched the red stripe climb higher and higher. When it hit 104 degrees she pulled it out not waiting for the the time to finish. Knowing they were in trouble she started to call Haruka.
Glancing at Usagi she was amazed to fevered eyes darting around the room. "Mamoru is going to kill me! You have to stop him. Please!" Her eyes closed as she choked back a sob and she was still and silent again.
"Ha-ru-ka!" Michiru was up in a flash and heading for the kitchen. "You were right. She believe's that Mamo-chan is going to kill her." She ran into the empty kitchen and glanced around. Running back the way she had come she ducked her head into their bedroom. 'Still no Haruka. Where is she?' She ran towards the bathroom and that is when the sound caught her attention. 'She is in the shower.' She ran to the door and hurried in.
Haruka was enjoying the hot water. She had just climbed in and was letting it soak away the stress. She heard Michiru come in and smiled.
"Care to join me?" She turned looking at Michiru hoping to see agreement. What she saw instead stopped her. "What is it? Did she wake up?" She turned the shower off and grabbed her towel.
"You were right. She believes that Mamo-chan is going to kill her." Breathing heavily she took a moment before continuing. "She woke up long enough to tell me that he is going to kill her. Her temp is upwards of one hundred four."
Looking shocked Haruka asked outright. "What are we going to do?" Using the towel she dried off and slipped into her robe. Toweling off her short hair she looked to Michiru for ideas.
"First things first. We need to stay calm and analyze the situation." Michiru being the more level headed of the two put things in perspective. "Here is what we do know. She is very sick and that could be causing the hallucinations but we do not know fully what is going on. I think we should keep an eye on her for tonight and wait for morning before taking any major steps."
Haruka nodded thoughtfully. "I agree with you. If you don't mind, I think I will sit with her tonight in case something happens." Michiru could see the stress Haruka was suffering and smiled softly.
"I think that is a great idea." There wasn't any cause for jealousy and she knew it would put Haruka's mind at ease. "Let me get you a blanket. That room tends to cool off more than any other." Haruka smiled.
"Thanks, I would appeciate it." She wandered out of the bathroom behind Michiru and headed for the spare bedroom.
Walking over to the chair she sat her self down using the pillows as back support. Seconds later Michiru walked in behind her carrying a spare blanket. Covering her lover she tucked the blanket around her carefully.
"You call me if anything changes." She kissed Haruka on the forehead and walked over to the door. Turning the light down she murmured. "Ai'shiteru."
Haruka nodded. With the silence of the night she was finally able to let her thoughts wander free.
She thought back to when she had first met the girl on the bed. It had been months before when she and Michiru had first come to Tokyo. They had wandered into the Crown Arcade and ran into Usagi and Minako.
There was an immediate attraction. 'It was like when I first met Michiru. I just knew that there was something special about Kitten that drew out my protective instincts.'
She recalled Usagi's birthday when they had almost had to sacrafice Kitten because they thought she carried a talisman. That had been one of the most difficult decision's she'd ever had to make. She still liked to bug Mamoru about the glass slipper that started it all. In her mind Mamoru was to blame for placing her in danger though she never said it outloud.
She remembered the waltz with Usagi. That was one of her favorite moments. Sweeping around the dance floor in Mr. Edwards Mansion. Holding the young girl close, swaying to the music. She also remembered when Michiru had died. Seeing Usagi floating above her she had thought that Usagi was the Messiah.
'There is just something about this girl that affects me as only Michiru can. I love them both so much.' She sighed in resignation. It was an unrequited love of course.
She knew of history, destiny, and such. She also knew Usagi would never feel the same as Michiru did. 'But if Mamo-chan or anyone hurts her there is going to be hell to pay. They are going to have to go through me first.'
She loved to tease Usagi all the time just to see her innocent reactions. Thinking of the blush that stained Usagi's cheeks left her with a soft smile. She reached over and picked up the soft hand resting on the blankets. She could feel the heat burning through Usagi's flesh.
Usagi, still running, was starting to give out. Her breathing was whistling through her throat as her vision blurred . Her muscles screamed with agony at each movement but her mind paid no attention to her body's stress. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. The sweat poured off of her brow soaking her. She was running on survival instinct alone.
As her body gave out she landed harshly on her knees. Panting heavily she propped her hands on her thighs and looked around. She could only see darkness surrounding her.
With a blinding flash everything changed. She was kneeling in a field covered in flowers. She could feel the warm sun and a gentle breeze. The sky was azure blue and the flowers had a heavenly scent floating on the breeze. When a shadow blocked out the sunlight she glanced up.
Prince Endymion stood looking down at her. The cold arrogant look upon his features sent a shiver down her already chilled form.
"You are so ignorant and pathetic, really. Do you know how long I have waited to say these words. To let you know how I really see you." He laughed at the look of pain on her face.
His words rang around her. An evil chilling laugh floated everywhere killing the illusion of the field and flowers. She found herself once again on the path that led nowhere...
Michiru awoke early as usual. Throwing on her robe she wandered into the kitchen and added water to the teapot, setting it on the burner. Walking towards the room where Haruka and Usagi slept she went quietly. Opening the door she peeked in to see Haruka slumped in the chair sleeping. Usagi's hand tucked into hers. Strolling closer she set her hand on Haruka's shoulder.
"Good morning Koibito." Smiling she leaned over and kissed her lover's lips. Groggy teal eyes blinked up and met azure ones. "How is our patient doing?" Michiru glanced at the bed looking for noticeable improvements. Unfortunately she couldn't notice any.
"She is still running a fever but she did not wake up at all." Haruka eyed Usagi's pale complexion. 'She is too pale and we may have to seek medical help.' "I think you were...are right. We are going to have to seek medical help but I am still not happy about it."
"I know but if it will save her..." Michiru left the thought unfinished. They were both so lost in thought that neither of the women noticed the glow filling the room. With a warm tingle they both looked around and gasped as the room fell away.
"Haruka where are we?" Michiru put a hand up trying to locate Haruka in the darkness. Haruka was just considering transforming when a soft glow illuminated their surroundings. "Is this where I think it is?" Michiru, sensing a familairity with the place, slowly relaxed.
"Yes it is." A soft voice came out of nowhere. Seconds later a glowing appirition seemingly appeared. Both Haruka and Michiru recognized the figure immediately. Dropping to their knees, heads bowed they showed utter respect. She smiled at the two girls. "You may rise. Neptune, Uranus, It has been a long time."
"Your Highness." Both girls stood up and looked at Queen Serenity. "Why did you bring us to the moon?" Michiru wondered out loud.
"It is impossible for me to come to you but I can bring you here. I need your help again it seems." The Queen paused in thought; twirling one long tail around her finger. Both Haruka and Michiru smiled. Now they knew where Usagi had picked up the habit. The Queen smoothed her hair one last time before continuing. "The Princess is in trouble. Someone intends her harm."
Haruka gasped in shock. "She was telling us the truth." With a relieved look Haruka explained. "Your Highness, your daughter seems to think Endymion is trying to kill her."
"Hmm that seems troubling. I don't know who or what intends her harm." Queen Serenity glanced at Haruka. "This I do know. She is ill, yes?" Queen Serenity nodded at her own question.
"Yes she is running a high fever and is out of her mind." Michiru remained calm giving the queen details. Haruka ran a hand through her hair gathering her thoughts.
"Your Highness we are going to have to seek medical attention for your daughter, but I don't like the idea." Haruka began pacing back and forth. "We.."
"No You must not!" With an authority laced tone the Queen looked ready to apologize. Sighing in resignation she continued. "Look it is part of her lunarian biorhythms that are aiding this. If you take her to modern terran medicine they will pump her full of terran chemicals that might hurt her." Taking a deep breath she paused for a moment. "Call in Princess Mercury. That is going to be your best help. Place your trust in her knowledge."
Haruka and Michiru both nodded. "The only other thing you can do is watch over her." Queen Serenity leveled a pointed look at Haruka. "I charge you, Uranus with the job of protecting her. Yes, I know of your true feelings for my daughter and I completely understand." Throwing a soft look at Haruka she smiled. "It is time for you two to return. Please take good care of my daughter, your princess."
At these last words everything began fading and seconds later they were where they started once more in their spare bedroom with Usagi. As the glow began to disappear Haruka noticed she was still holding Usagi's hand. 'So that is how she did it. Her connection to Usagi.'
The whistling of the teapot caught both of their attention. Michiru smiled at Haruka. "I'll go prepare the tea." She glanced at Usagi. "We need to decide what to do." She looked back once to see Haruka thoughtfully pondering Usagi.
"I'll be there in a moment." Haruka looked thoughtfully at Usagi. 'So the Queen knows. I was not expecting that. Don't worry Kitten I will protect you no matter what.' She laid the hand she was holding back on the comforter and leaned forward placing a gentle kiss on Usagi's forehead. Standing she stretched before heading for the kitchen.
Here is an end to Chapter 1 I hope you have enjoyed it so far. Please R&R and let me know what you think.
