Dreaming of Dreams

Chapter 4

Minako flipped through the rack of blouses with little interest, glancing over each top for a moment before going to the next one. Usagi frowned at her friend, reached over, and grabbed Minako's hand.

"Mina-chan, stop it. Look, we need to talk." Usagi pulled her away from the clothes and out of the store, into the mall. She found a bench beside the mall fountain and sat down, pulling the silent Minako down beside her.

"What's wrong, Usagi-chan?" Minako whispered softly, fully knowing what the problem was.

"You're acting like this dream thing is about to ruin your life, that's what. Mina-chan, what if this dream is good? I mean, seriously! A beautiful little girl calling you Momma, a handsome man that's supposedly you husband….why are you so stressed out about it?"

"Because, Usagi-chan…" Minako's blue eyes shifted down to the tile flooring. "Because it can't be good….because I'm not allowed that kind of happiness…"

Usagi frowned. "But…Mina-chan…why are you putting yourself down like this? Everyone deserves to be happy, especially you! You're being so odd…you're never depressed…"

Minako sighed in frustration, standing up and staring out at the people walking by. She looked over her shoulder at Usagi. "I'm not always happy, Usagi-chan. I wish people would quit telling me that. I'm a normal, eighteen year old girl with feelings and problems, just like everyone else. Just because it's supposed to be that I'm always happy and just because it seems that I am doesn't mean that inside I actually AM! Usagi-chan, you're my best friend…you should know me better than that…"

Usagi stood up beside her and reached over to hug the frowning girl. "I know, Mina-chan. Just don't let something like this get you down…you DO deserve happiness…and you're going to find it. It's really right under your nose….or above it, rather, considering he's so much taller than you." She giggled slightly and pulled away, holding Minako at arms length. "Why can't you see it?"

Minako blinked. "Usa-chan, what are you talking about?"

Usagi giggled again. "Motoki-kun, you silly girl!"

Minako gasped slightly and frowned. "Iie, Usa-chan. Motoki-kun is just a friend…and that's all he'll ever be…"

Usagi shrugged. "Well, from the way he looks at you and worries over you it certainly doesn't look like HE feels like you're just friends."

Minako shook her head. "Usa-chan, I know what I'm saying. I don't think Motoki-kun and I would work…as much….as very much as I may like it if we would. But we're just way too different."

"YOU'RE different? For kami's sakes, would you look at Mamo-chan and I? We barely have anything in common…and we still love each other…"

Minako smiled. "Hai, but that's you and Mamoru-kun, Usa-chan…it's different. Anyways, come on; let's REALLY go shopping this time…okay?"

Usagi grinned. "YEAH!"


"MAMO-CHAN!"

Mamoru cringed slightly at Usagi's loud wails. He looked up from his book to see her poking her head in his living room. "Usako, don't you think you could quit down just a little bit? I have neighbors, hon…"

"Nyeh! Besides, you've upset me very badly today. Keeping secrets like that from me…now where the heck did you hide it?" She left the kitchen and plopped beside him on the couch, grabbing his book away from him.

He sighed. "It wasn't my fault! Mina-chan told me NOT to tell you…" He paused and frowned. "Hide what?"

She flipped through his physics book critically, her nose wrinkled in disgust. "I will NEVER understand why you read this stuff…and you KNOW what I'm talking about."

"No, I don't, Usako…"

"Think. YOU'RE supposed to be the brains in this relationship, after all…"

"Usako…I can't read minds..." He sighed.

"You're supposed to be able to know what I'm thinking at all times!" She pouted, reaching over and putting his book on the coffee table.

"That's an impossible task…"

"HOW COME?" She looked up at him and frowned. "You know me better than anyone else…"

"That may be so, Usako…but…no one man will EVER understand what goes in the brains of you females…"

She groaned. "How come men are always saying that?"

He laughed. "Because it's true!"

She rolled her eyes. "Well, anyways, where did you hide it?"

"Usako, what are you talking about?"

"Oh, sheesh, fine! I'm talking about that ice cream I bought yesterday and brought over for us to eat tonight!"

"Oh. That. Why didn't you just say so? It's in the freezer, on the very back shelf."

"Ooooh…the BACK shelf. Sheesh, don't hide ice cream in the back, Mamo-chan. Ice cream should be put on the top of everything because it's most important!" She giggled and jumped off the couch, running to the kitchen.

He grinned slightly and reached over to pick up his book.

"Don't you dare touch that book, Mamo-chan! I'm coming back in a minute!"

He pulled his hand back. 'How the hell did she do that!'

She came back in the room with the ice cream carton and two spoons. Placing the ice cream on the coffee table, she picked up all the books that he had littered around and left the room again. She came back a few minutes later.

"Where did you go?" He looked over the back of the couch at her.

She grinned. "Just hiding all those pesky books of yours. I'll put them back later, I promise. But right now we need to talk."

He raised an eyebrow and frowned. "I don't like that tone…what's wrong?"

"It's not me, Mamo-chan. It's Mina-chan…" She grabbed the ice cream and sat beside him on the couch, snuggling into the crook of his arm. "I'm worried about her. This afternoon when we were shopping, she looked so incredibly depressed and it scared me. It's just not like Mina-chan."

"Usako…she's just got a lot of things bothering her. You should just try and be supportive of her…"

"I know, I know. But I'm just saying…she really needs this break to Paris, yes, but…I want you to help me with something else, when we get back."

He looked down into her twinkling blue eyes. "Uh-oh…what are you scheming?"

"You know Motoki-kun better than anyone else, don't you?"

"AH-HA! How did I know this would involve Motoki? Usako, that's their business…you shouldn't interfere…especially if it involves me…"

She frowned. "But why not? You've got to help me!"

"No way, Usako! Matchmaking is NOT in me."

She pouted and turned away from him. "Fine. If you won't help, you get NO ice cream…and it's chocolate. Your FAVORITE."

"Now that's not fair…"

"Heeeh….Just call me the evil girlfriend who knows the rules of blackmail!"

He sighed. "Fine…then you can just go home and put up with your PARENTS and LUNA all night." He grinned slightly.

She gasped and turned back to him, a pout forming on her face. "Now that's just cruel, Mamo-chan!"

"Then let me have ice cream."

"Help me get Minako and Motoki together and I'll let you have ice cream!"

"No, you let me have ice cream and I don't send you home…"

"I'll just hide in the guest room!"

"I'll lock the guest room."

"I'll take the couch!"

"I'll take the cushions off the couch and lock them in the storage closet."

"The balcony lounge chair!"

"That's an easy one, I'll just fold it up and store it in the closet with the couch cushions…"

"…the recliner?"

"I don't have a recliner, Usako…"

"Oh, yeah…"

"You lose."

"……okay….I lose….what do you want?"

"…umm…ice cream?"

She sighed and handed the carton over to him. "Fine, fine, you win. I'll just try and get Mako-chan to help me…"

"Now that's a better idea, dear." He grabbed a spoon from her and started digging in.

"HEY! Share, why don't ya? Sheesh, Mamo-chan, I bought it for both of us! Both meaning me included!"

"You've already had your share!"

"I had one bite!"

"Yeah, and that's your share!"

"I bought it!"

"I bought the apartment and the bed and the couch and…"

"AHHH! Would you quit blackmailing me already? You wouldn't really send me home!"

"…and who says I won't?"

"…………….."

Mamoru looked up from his ice cream to see the back of her head.

She sighed and turned to him. "Alright. Eat the damn ice cream."

Mamoru chuckled slightly, reaching over and pecking her lips. "I'm just teasing, dear. You're right, I could never send you home…it'd be more of a punishment for me than you."

"Then can I have ice cream?"

He laughed. "Yes, yes, yes…"


Minako studied through the travel brochure deeply, ignoring the humorous looks that Artemis was giving her. The white cat jumped around on the bed, meowing and trying his very best to make her look up. Finally, after watching her intent gaze on the pamphlet, he sighed and curled up into a ball on her pillow. Minako grinned and looked up, reaching over and brushing through his fur with her fingertips. "Silly Artemis."

His head shot up. "Oh, sure, NOW you look up!"

She giggled and kissed the top of his crescent mooned forehead. "I was busy looking at the sights of Paris, Arty!"

"Well, shouldn't you wait till you get there to do that?"

She nodded and placed the brochure on the side table next to her bed. "Hai, hai, fine. I'll look at this later…so what's up?"

"I want to talk to you about something, Mina-chan…"

"Hai? What is it?" She sat up and pulled her hair out of its red bow, shaking her hair free.

"Well…are you having some bad dreams, Mina-chan?"

She stopped running her fingers through her hair and looked over her shoulder into his little blue eyes. "Why do you say that?"

"You seem disturbed…when you sleep. I've watched you. I've even tried talking to you about it before…you keep shrugging me off."

She smiled slightly and reached over to hug her friend. "I'm sorry, Artemis. I should have talked to you about it…you're a true friend to me, and I don't deserve your care and concern…but thank you…"

"Mina-chan…"

"It's just a crazy dream that keeps reoccurring…the first time, I saw a little girl, the second time, a handsome man…both said things that made them related to me…the girl said I was her mother, the man acted like he was my husband or lover or something…it was just crazy…"

"Why is it such a bad dream to you though? It sounds like a nice dream to me…"

"Hai…but it's just…it's just odd. It shouldn't bother me, it shouldn't. But it does…"

"Why…?"

She shook her head and laid back on the bed, resting against the pillows, Artemis lying in her lap. She stroked his fur gently as she stared at the ceiling. "I don't know, Artemis. I really don't. It just bothers me…I guess maybe it's because…I'm scared…I've never thought of what it would be like to…be loved…or…to have my own child…I've always…thought I'd be alone the rest of my life…"

"You're not alone, Mina-chan. You'll never be alone. I'll always be here for you…and you have your friends and your mother…and you'll find that someone…I know you will"

She smiled down at him. "Hai, maybe you're right. Arigatou, Artemis."

He purred and snuggled in her lap, falling asleep.

She looked out her window at the stars. 'But what if I never do find him…?'


Rei, Ami, & Makato were in the Tokyo International Airport promptly on time for their flight. Rei paced around the terminal impatiently, sighing deeply and staring down at her watch every few minutes.

Ami and Makato sat in the waiting chairs, watching the raven-haired priestess pace back and forth. They knew that if their other friends didn't show up soon, the girl would start having a temper tantrum. They gave each other worried looks. This was not the way they wanted their vacation to start.

Minako came running up, her blonde hair flying wildly behind her, her white jean skirt and orange tank top slightly wrinkled. "Oh, my gosh, guys! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to be so late, but I had some last minute packin-"

"It's alright, Mina-chan! We're just glad you're here!" Makato stood up and grabbed the blonde in a hug, cutting off her words. Minako smiled and hugged her back.

Rei looked up. "Glad you're here, Mina-chan! Now where is that ditz Usagi and her boyfriend?"

"Nice to know I'm referred to as the boyfriend…" They heard a male's voice grumble.

All eyes turned around to see Usagi and Mamoru standing behind them, both carrying suitcases…most of which were Usagi's.

Usagi giggled and tugged on the sleeve of his green jacket. "Aww…honey, they don't ALWAYS refer to you as that…"

Rei rolled her eyes. "PLEASE don't start getting all lovey-dovey in the middle of the airport! It's about time you got here; we're going to miss our flight if we don't hurry, thanks to you two!"

Mamoru sighed. "It wasn't MY fault…she just HAD to stop and get one more ice cream before we left…"

Ami stood up and grabbed the few bags that were by her feet. "Well, it doesn't matter. You're both here, so let's go!"

Makato had to grab Rei and drag her away from screaming at Usagi about her ice cream fits. Minako helped take several of the bags that Rei had left behind, carrying her own as well. She watched out the window as she walked by at the planes that were taking off for different destinations. She smiled.

'Soon I'll be on a plane just like one of those…'


End Chapter Four.

(Kind of short, I know, but I'm not feeling too well at the moment…updates will be slow for the next few weeks, as I'm trying to get over a bit of anemia and an ear infection…)