Flame
Chapter Two: Shades of Grey
SailorKagome
An angel lies in sleep
Without her memories
When she wakes they'll weep
For the other's time is near
The past she could not keep
And she has much to fear
Everything was quiet.
In the white room with the bright, glaring lights were two beds. On those beds lay two badly beaten girls.
One, with the appearance of an angel. Her golden-silver hair entwined about her like the tendrils of a flower. A face so tender, innocent, and serene in its slumber. She breathed easy; not much blood had been lost, and she had minor injuries, now, though they had not been even close to minor when they'd first found her. But serious enough to keep her hospitalized, and unconscious for nearly a week.
The other . . . She could also be called an angel. But, in truth, a fallen one. Raven hair fanned out beneath her like broken wings, for, indeed, was she broken. With skin pale as snow, and icy to the touch, she slept a fitful slumber. Scars criss-crossed her body, slowly beginning to fade. She would not move for some time because of a broken leg, and broken ribs. She'd suffered a severe loss of blood, and many broken bones. Tubes of life connected to her body tied her down to this world.
And from the lone couch in that cold, bare room, watched a boy. With hair as black as night, and ebony eyes that showed his worry, stayed Wufei. He never left, and often sat in thought. As he watched them, one making great improvement, the other not, he though about what the doctor had said to them.
"It- it's nothing short of a miracle. By all rights, these girls should have been dead a long time ago."
And what he'd said as he watched the rapid improvement of Usagi.
"This is amazing!" His eyes were wide with astonishment. "It's not possible. She shouldn't be alive right now. It's- I cannot explain it."
What secrets did these sleeping angel's keep?
Wufei paced, and as he did so, many worried glances were cast at Meiran- or was it? A low moan came from one of the beds, and he immediately whipped around.
"Meiran?"
But no.
It was the golden one who stirred.
"Mmm . . ." Groggily, she sat up, slowly looking around at her surroundings. "What- Where . . .am I?"
Finally, Wufei thought. Maybe now I can get some answers.
"U-" What was her name again? "Usagi?"
"Hm?" She faced him with a puzzled look in her eyes. Such blue eyes, so pure, and- and innocent. "Hi!" She smiled. What a smile. You could just feel the room grow warmer.
"Who's Usagi? What a kawaii name!"
He started. "What? You're Usagi. Aren't you?"
She tilted her head to one side as she thought. "Well, I'm not sure. Who are you?"
"Um . . ." Oh, no, he thought. "I'll . . .be right back."
She blinked. "O-okay." She yawned and stretched her arms, and as she did so, caught a glimpse of her neighbor.
"Oh?" Deeply pondering, she stared. "Who are you?"
Receiving no answer, Usagi stood. And almost immediately collapsed.
"Itai . . ." Rubbing her throbbing legs, she stood once more; this time holding onto the rails of the bed to steady herself. And, slowly, Usagi took small, wobbling steps toward the other bed.
As she arrived, she stopped. When she looked at this face, something stirred inside her. There was something at the corner of her mind, but she couldn't place it.
"Who . . . Who are you?"
A noise from behind her caused Usagi to spin around, not a good move, as she still was not capable on her feet. She collapsed once more, this time knocking her knees against the bed and floor.
"Itaaaaaii," She moaned again. Remembering that she was not alone, she looked up. "Anou . . ." She began hesitantly. "Do I- Do I know you?"
"Hn." Hiiro pulled out his gun and aimed it directly at Usagi. "Who are you, and where did you come from?"
"Aie!" Her reaction was . . .unusual. She seemed beyond terrified. "Gomen nasai! Watashi- watashi . . ." The girl began to tremble uncontrollably. Images began shooting through her mind. Things shooting. People dieing. So much blood . . .
"Serenity, NO! Watch out!"
"Iie . . ." She grabbed her head. "Iie, iie!"
"Hiiro!" Hissed Quatre sharply, as he ran to Usagi's side, and she latched onto his side, shaking. "Put that away! I will not have you shooting innocent girls in my house!"
" . . ."
"Now."
Hiiro glared, but pocketed his gun.
"Now, now," Quatre rubbed her back soothingly. "Are you alright?"
"Anou . . .nani?" She shook her head. "Watashi . . . Eh . . ."
"Daijoubu desu ka?" Her eyes flickered up at the sound of a familiar language. But when she saw that it was the boy who had drawn a gun on her, she drew back slightly, but . . .decided it was the only choice she had. She nodded slowly.
"Hai . . .hontondo."
Sighing, Hiiro began to question her in Japanese.
"Do you speak any English? Many people here do not speak Japanese."
"I do not know . . . Perhaps I can try?"
"Good enough. Most likely, I'll have to teach you. What's your name, where do you live, and why were you hurt so badly?"
She looked downcast. " I am sorry . . .but I do not know any of that. Um, the boy over there called me 'Usagi', so maybe that is it?" Usagi shrugged as she pointed to Wufei. She glanced over to the bed with the sleeping girl again.
Aiee . . ., she thought to herself. I wish . . . I wish that I could speak the English.
Very softly, and very quickly, a crescent moon lit on her forehead, and her eyes glowed. But too quickly, even, for the perfect soldier to catch a glimpse.
She pointed to Rei.
"Do I-" She stopped. The words sounded strange in her mouth. Was this English? "Do I . . .know her? When I see her . . . My head feels . . .strange?"
"You can speak English?" Asked Duo, excitedly. "Awesome!" She blinked at him.
"Um . . . Yes?"
"We believe you know her," Said Quatre. "You were found with her, and she knew your name."
"Honto?! Who is she?" Usagi's eyes lit up.
"Meiran, is what she said."
"Iie . . ." Usagi shook her head. "That does not . . . I do not know . . . Are you sure?"
"Well," Quatre paused, and thought about it. "There was something else . . . She started to say something, but stopped. It was . . . Rei?, I think."
". . ." Usagi was silent. More of those images flashed through her mind at the sound of the name.
"Rei, you jerk!"
"Odango Atama!"
"Ami-chaaan! Tell Rei that I'm not speaking to her!"
"Now, now, you two. Enough of this; we have to study!"
"Maybe. I'm not sure, demo . . ." She was interrupted by a loud rumbling noise. "Nani?! What is that?"
"It's your stomach. You must be hungry." Quatre smiled. "Would you like something to eat?"
"Hai!" Usagi nodded eagerly. "Oh! I am sorry . . . I do not even know your names."
"It's not your fault!" Quatre blushed. "Forgive my manners; I did not remember to introduce my friends, or myself. I am Quatre Winner, the one with the black hair is Wufei Chang, the one with the braid is Duo Maxwell, Hiiro Yui is the one with the gun, and Trowa Barton is the last."
She bowed her head. "Konnichiwa, minna-san. Anou, Quatre-san?"
"Yes?"
" . . . Do you think we could eat now?"
"Of course!"
"Also, Quatre-san . . ." Her eyes shifted nervously.
"Is there something wrong?"
"Well . . . I do not think . . .that I can walk . . ."
"Hey! No problem!" Duo walked over picked her up bridal style.
"Eee!" Usagi's face flushed. "Are you sure, Duo-san?"
" 'Course! It's a privilege to carry a babe around!" He smiled mischievously. " 'Specially when she's conscious."
She giggled. "Alright." Usagi's stomach rumbled loudly. "I think I am hungry."
"Hey, me too. Al the time. So . . ." Duo grinned. "Did it hurt?"
"Did what hurt?"
"When you fell from heaven."
"Duo! You can't hit on her! She doesn't even know you!"
"Yet."
Usagi giggled. Maybe I do not know who I am, or where I am . . ., she thought. But I think I will like it here.
And old wounds seem to heal . . .
You don't know what to say . . .
Or even what to feel . . .
"Uhh . . ." My eyelids slowly fluttered open to reveal a world of black.
"What?" Everything was so dark . . .so lonely . . . "Where- Where am I?"
I couldn't see anything. Not even my hand, the dark was so thick.
"What is this? Usagi?"
Nothing . . .
I crawled. On hands and knees. For hours, it seemed.
Until I hit something.
What is it?
I do not know.
Not until the dark started to fade.
Then I saw all too clearly . . .
Bodies.
Of my friends.
"Oh, God . . ."
I could not breathe. The sight stopped my heart.
"God, no!"
Then I heard them. The voices.
The voices of my friends.
"Look what you've done!"
"It's all your fault, Rei!"
"You've failed us!"
Failed . . .
The word echoed.
On and on.
But then . . .
Everything was quiet.
Until I heard steps behind me.
It was Usagi.
"Usagi! Daijoubu? Do you know what happened?"
Silence.
Usagi regarded me with stranger's eyes. Almost as if . . .as if she didn't recognize me.
"Usagi . . ." Tentatively, I reached out to the golden-haired bunny. "Usagi-chan, what's wrong? Don't you know me?"
But she pulled away. Farther and farther away.
"No!"
I ran. Oh, I ran. Endlessly, forever. But never any closer.
"No, please! Wait! Don't leave me . . .don't leave me all alone . . ."
Alone . . .
The word echoed.
Forever alone . . .
I stopped. Usagi was gone.
Suddenly, my world spun.
Everything in view was destroyed. Wreckage spilled across the barren lands. Colour had vanished from this world. All was grey.
No . . .
That was wrong.
There was colour. A beautiful, vibrant colour.
A rich, rich red.
I hate it.
Blood. The colour of death. Painted everywhere, by it's cruel artist.
On everything.
And the stench . . .
A scream.
So hollow; so pained.
It cut at my very heart.
"Neptune!" The desperate wail carried on the wind as Uranus ran towards her fallen lover. And then . . .
She cried. Sobbed. Wept.
For something lost.
Never before had anyone witnessed the mighty Uranus shed tears.
Never again.
I remembered quite clearly how the warrior of wind met her twisted fate. Too clearly. So soon.
Why . . .why do I have to watch this again?
It hurts.
Watching them die once broke my heart. Twice destroyed all feeling.
Isn't there something- anything I can do? Warn them. Prevent this.
I should . . .
Try.
Go forward. One step. Two steps. It was so hard . . . Like walking through mountains of sand.
It was taking too long.
I opened my mouth.
"Uranus!"
It came out as a croak. Again.
"Uranus!"
But it fell on deaf ears.
They could not hear me.
I reached for Haruka's arm.
My hands went through.
I was helpless.
Unable to save myself, or them.
Worthless . . .
So it was helplessly that I watched Uranus cut down in front of me.
Again.
So helpless . . .
And each blow broke my heart.
Little by little.
Piece by piece.
Again and again . . .
And then . . . Everything began to whirl. And I found myself watching . . .
Me.
Right before I took the Queen and left.
My hands!
No! They'd started to bleed . . .
What was happening?
Movement drew my eyes to the scene in front of me.
Pluto had been killed . . . But why wasn't I moving? I just stood there . . . Why didn't I move?
"Come on . . ." I urged myself. "Take Serenity and leave! Hurry!"
And yet I stood there.
And then . . .he killed me.
This wasn't possible!
Yet it was happening right before my eyes.
My eyes filled with horror as he started toward Serenity. As he raised his sword above her sleeping body.
And as he swung.
"Nooooo!!" The cry tore itself from my throat. It couldn't be real, but . . .it was too much.
He turned around and smiled.
"Umpf!" I gasped as vines wove themselves around my arms and legs. Writhing, twisting, winding. With a crushing hold on my throat, arms, legs. And slowly . . .
It drew down.
As if sinking through quicksand.
But it wasn't.
Oh, how I wish it were.
But you can't have everything you wish for.
So many things raced through my mind as I sank into that dark, endless pool filled with . . .
Blood.
I shouldn't . . . But I am. A warrior race, such as mine, should never fear something so commonly faced.
But I did.
It haunted me.
The stench, the feel, the color.
Everything about it.
Every time I saw it, I was instantly reminded of this day.
Of my friends.
Of the worst day of my life.
. . .Of failure.
As I stared into the depths of the oncoming horror, I heard something.
"Focus . . ."
"What?"
"It's only as bad as you make it. He's playing off your fear. It's your dream; just focus"
"I can't . . ." What was this?
"Fine then. Give up. Sentence Serenity to death."
"What!? How . . . What are you talking about?"
"You're giving up. And if you can't get out of here, there will not be anyone left to protect Serenity."
"But I . . .can't. I don't-"
"Concentrate. It isn't real. Try."
"Who are you?"
"So many questions . . ." A sigh. "An ally. Now, do it!"
". . .Okay." Closing my eyes, I inhaled and began to meditate. I focused on something, anything away from this. Around me, the liquid began bubbling, and I felt the vines disappear. I slipped down, into water now, and all went black.
End of chapter two.
Sorry, Usagi's a bit OOC in this chapter. But who can blame her? She's got amnesia. And I've got to say . . . The first half was bright . . . Happy, cheerful bright . . . Maybe too much for this story. Or not.
How does a sequel sound to everyone? I already have one planned, if the readers so request. -
Ohoho, I've got a lot planned for this. Just you wait. This is my -fanfiction- masterpiece. It shall be brilliant.
But tell me how you liked it.
I received 22 reviews for the first chapter, and that just made my day. Plus, it sped up the process of getting this chapter finished. Oh, what a few kind words can do to someone . . . Unless, of course, you're trying to hit on me. In which case, all guys leave me alone until I turn 18. Then we can talk.
Right . . .
In any case, I'd really love it if you could take the time to review. It really makes an authoress feel appreciated.
14 pages! W00t!