Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon

Chapter Five

Days went by and still Serena did not wake up. Mina sat by her all day, everyday, barely leaving her side, except when she had to use the toilet or get something from somewhere out of reach. She still blamed herself for not trying harder and cried frequently, but she was determined to make it up to Serena by being as supportive as she possibly could. If that meant looking after her while she was unconscious, then she would do that.

Amy took up a tray of food for Mina. She was loosing what little weight she had, but she didn't ever seem to realise she was hungry until someone brought up food, and so never came down to get something to eat. It was worrying. Amy knocked once and then pushed the door open with her foot. She walked over to Mina, who was sitting in her usual spot, crossed legged at the side of Serena's bed, facing her. She tapped her lightly on the shoulder with her elbow and then placed the tray on her lap.

" You know she'll let us know when she wakes up. You don't have to sit with her all the time." She said gently, settling herself next to Mina, who was picking at her food.

" She might not be able to." Mina replied.

" I think she would find a way."

" I prefer to sit with her."

" You should come down and walk outside for a while, nothings going to happen to Serena while you're gone."

" I still prefer to sit with her."

" Please Mina, you're as pale as the sheet on Serena's bed and you're loosing too much weight. You need to get out and get some fresh air, eat more. You won't be any use to Serena when you've worked yourself to death!" Amy exclaimed.

" And I won't be any use to Serena if I'm not here to help her either." Minas voice was neutral.

" You would be a lot more use to her if you weren't so tired and worn out, or if you weren't so underweight that your ribs show through your skin, or if your muscles weren't so worn away from disuse. Staying here is just going to make you even more depressed than you already are!"

" No."

" If you don't come out of here soon, one of the guys are going to come up here and forcibly move you out. It's not good for you to stay in here for so long." Amy said.

" No."

"Please Mina." Amy said desperately. "Serena wouldn't like to see you wearing away to almost nothing for her sake."

Minas facial features changed subtly at that. Amy was right, Serena wouldn't want that, but how could she leave and stand the chance that Serena would wake up without her being there? Amy, reading the emotions crossing Minas face said,

" I'll stay in here with her and give you an hour or two outside, if that would make you feel any better."

" OK." Mina said standing.

"She's going to hate us for this." Kunzite said, standing at the bottom of the stairs, keeping an eye on Lita, who was standing at the top, waiting for a signal from Zoicite, who was standing at the door to Serena and Minas room, listening to the conversation within.

" I know, but she wouldn't be able to cope with what has to be done, not after what happened last time." Andrew said from the table.

" It's trickery!"

" None of us like it, but it has to be done." Rei said.

Kunzite stiffened when Lita signalled that Mina was coming down and walked quickly over to the table and sat down, making sure he looked relaxed. Lita and Zoicite quickly joined him and the others. They could hear Minas footsteps coming hesitantly down the stairs and had to prevent themselves from holding their breaths. Her feet came into view first, followed quickly by the rest of her as she descended the last step. She stopped and looked around the kitchen, peering at all the crockery and utensils hanging from hooks on the wall and roof. She walked over to the end of the table and placed her tray on it, still looking at her surroundings. They all watched her intensely.

" Hello." Kunzite said quietly.

" Hello."

" Finally decided we're not monsters after all?" Andrew asked.

Mina didn't smile, as she was supposed too, but her face did soften a bit. She shrugged.

" Would you like a tour?" Andrew asked.

Again Mina shrugged, avoiding everyone's eyes. She felt uncomfortable around these people. She had met them all, but she didn't know them. She didn't quite fully trust them and wouldn't until she heard Serena's opinion of them.

" Right, well, a tour it is then." Andrew said. " Kunzite will you do the honours?"

" My pleasure." Kunzite said smiling at Mina. "We'll start with the garden." Kunzite stood and moved over to the door, pushing it open for Mina to proceed him, and looking back quickly at the others as he exited, locking the door behind him.

The garden consisted of three separate garden beds, each of them filled with different type of herbs and vegetables. They were arranged so that they were end to end, with a small path dividing them. They were just sprouting, and little green shoots could be seen poking up from the rich brown soil. Trees lined the edges and dropped leaves onto the wooden planks placed there.

"Amy loves this garden." Kunzite said. "She says it's like a child. It has to be nurtured, like they do, and fed and kept happy, other wise they grow to be sickly and unmanageable. She says plants have stages like baby, child, teenager and adult, just like us, and have the same sort of mood swings."

Mina didn't say anything. She walked over to the nearest tree and looked up into the branches. A bird was nesting in there and gave a loud cry when it saw her.

" That's Trista, she's been coming back here to nest for over ten years. Ever since we transformed the Mill into a house for us all." Kunzite said.

Seeing Kunzite the bird ruffled its' feathers and spread it tail feathers. It advanced menacingly towards them along the branch.

" I think we should leave her alone." Mina said.

" I agree."

" We've always been best friends, ever since we were children. Lita and Zoicite came out this way one day on a delivery, and passed this place. Then it was just an old, rundown mill. At that time we were looking for a place large enough for all of us, and this sounded perfect. None of us had very much money, we've all come from poor families, but we managed to get enough between us to buy this place. We did all the work on it ourselves, with second hand materials. It's been home ever since." Kunzite told her, trying to start a conversation.

She said nothing. They walked down a path, Kunzite letting Mina walk where she wanted, occasionally pointing things out to her, like the scarecrow in one of the corners of the yard, or a flower just coming into bloom, or the bees nest in the corner of the barn, where only one horse was kept. Everything seemed peaceful and right. Birds sang and a fresh breeze was blowing, lifting leaves and carrying with it the scent of flowers. But this peace was shattered by a scream, coming form the Mill. Mina turned so swiftly it was amazing that she didn't over balance. She bolted back towards the Mill, ignoring objects that smacked into her face and body. Kunzite ran after her, calling out to her, but being ignored. Mina reached the door to the kitchen and tried to open it. It was locked. She pounded on the door screaming out Serena's name, rattling the lock and slamming her body into the door. All the while hearing Serena scream over and over again.