Usagi honestly did not think things could get any worse.

She spent the hours after being told she was blind in a sort of morose stupor, refusing meals and choosing instead to just lie there pretending like she couldn't hear on top of see. Wasn't being a vegetable kind of like being blind anyway? She could no longer enjoy the things around her. No TV, because who wanted to just listen to a show? No manga, because how would she read it? Her mother, bless her, had tried her hardest to draw Usagi out, but then she made the mistake of attempting to describe the pictures in Usagi's latest shoujo and that set the odangoed blonde off again, turning to weep brokenly into her pillow as it was once more driven home all the things she was going to miss. That was when she discovered she couldn't even cry properly anymore. The damage to her cornea had also ruined her tear ducts, leaving her with an awful burning sensation that could not be relieved. It was misery, drowning in her feelings yet unable to release them in the manner Tsukino Usagi had previously been so known for, so she just laid there hiccupping and gasping and making altogether a rather embarrassing display of herself. She was glad when everyone finally stepped out to give her some privacy, aware of the mass exodus by the sound of retreating footsteps.

No, she really did not think the situation could have gotten any worse.

But apparently, fate was bound and determined to prove her wrong.

Some hours after Usagi's long crying jag - or lack of crying jag, which somehow was even worse - there was a knock on the door. Ikuko and Kenji, who had arrived with Shingo after picking the boy up from school, ceased their discussions about what alterations they could make around the house to make Usagi's life easier. Usagi could sense their anticipation as Dr. Chiryoshi announced his presence.

"Good afternoon, everyone. Usagi-san, I hope you're feeling well today?"

Usagi played self-consciously with the loose threads on her sheets. "I'm fine," she said quickly, feeling like she had never made a statement further from the truth. Ikuko cleared her throat, in that obnoxious Mother-Knows-Best kind of way that makes all children want to roll their eyes. "Well... I guess my ribs have been a little sore."

"You had a few minor fractures that will take some time to heal. I'll see if the nurse can increase your pain medicine, but just for tonight. We have to be careful, because it's strong stuff, very addictive, and I don't want you to become reliant. Tomorrow we'll try just a couple Advil and see if that suffices, hmm?"

Usagi nodded, not really caring either way. She had endured her fair share of pain these past few months, more than she ever thought she would in a lifetime, and this constant ache in her ribs was nothing compared to being used as a homicidal youma's punching bag. But the medicine they gave her made her feel funny; like she was floating high above her body. Perhaps it would be nice to escape it all for just one more night. The girl blinked and had to pull herself from thought as Dr. Chiryoshi continued; a feat harder than it used to be, now that she didn't have the luxury of facial cues.

"You'll probably need to stay that course for at least a few weeks after discharge, and even after you're feeling back to 'normal' we'll still want you to take it easy until we can determine you truly are in the clear. Ribs are a very tricky business. But!" Here, Dr. Chiryoshi clapped, his voice becoming markedly brighter, "Speaking of your departure home! I do believe I have some good news. The nurses and I agree, your progress has been remarkable. When you first arrived, as your parents will attest, it was very touch and go. You gave us all a good scare. But all that sleeping you've been doing has done wonders... it's like your body took that opportunity to go full force on recouping and repairing. Just truly remarkable. I've never seen a patient bounce back so quickly after all the abuse you took."

Usagi blushed at the marvel in his voice, wondering what his reaction would be if he knew it was because of Senshi power.

Now if only her power could cure blindness, she thought soberly.

"That's why I think it's safe to say we can probably send you on your way in only a couple more days."

"I can go home?" Usagi asked hopefully, in a hushed whisper. She longed for her plush coverlet and the peace of her quiet bedroom, where she didn't have to deal with constantly being poked, prodded, and hovered over.

"I don't see why not. At this point, a familiar home environment will be far more conducive to your healing than remaining here, where our resources are unfortunately stretched rather thin at this time. But don't fret - I won't be discharging you empty-handed. Usagi-san, did you hear how many pairs of feet came through that door when I entered?"

Usagi blinked at the odd question. "Erm... two?"

"Correct!" Dr. Chiryoshi said, the beam on his face evident even without her sight. "Very well done, Usagi-san. Very promising. Nothing is going to be more important to you now than your powers of hearing. In fact, you may even experience an increase in your abilities. When one sense fails us, the others will often band together and take over where the other left off. It's like... our own personal failsafe. Now I'm not saying it's going to be an easy adjustment... but you will adjust, Usagi-san. The human body is nothing if not adaptable. And to help you do that, I have enlisted the help of one of my top ranking interns, whose work in trauma recovery is becoming legend around here. Everyone, please meet one of Azabu General's finest - Chiba Mamoru."

Usagi was fairly certain she just stopped breathing all together, her blood running cold as ice as she wondered desperately if she'd heard him right.

Chiba... Mamoru?

No.

Oh, no oh no oh no oh no...

Mamoru barely listened to the glowing accolades being lavished upon him, too busy was he in still trying to process the fact that the patient before him was none other than Tsukino Usagi - bed-ridden, bandaged... and blind. Her family whom he had never met stood around the bed gazing at he and Dr. Chiryoshi with the most hopeful expressions on their faces, like he was some savior come to bestow a miracle, and Mamoru felt like the worst of phonies because he couldn't do this, how the hell was he supposed to do this, and even more disconcerting was that he couldn't seem to stop staring at Usagi. Just, staring at her like one would a train wreck, horrified yet unable to look away.

His brain struggled to reconcile the image of this broken shell of a girl with the bubbly, happy-go-lucky one who never failed to land - quite literally - into his path, his personal space, every morning.

He'd wondered where she'd been this past week.

Mamoru swallowed past an uncomfortably dry throat, the noise sounding more like a gulp to his ears. He wished Dr. Chiryoshi would quit hailing him as such an 'exemplary human being'. He could hardly see Usagi's face since she was half-covered in the thick white gauze, but he was pretty sure she was thinking something other than 'exemplary' if the grit to her teeth was any indication.

"So if you're willing, I'd like to have Chiba-san visit with you a couple afternoons a week, though perhaps every day just to start, until you have mastered the basics..."

If she was willing? He didn't even know if he was willing anymore! How on earth was he supposed to take on something of this magnitude; to play teacher to a person he could barely even stand to be civil with? But Mamoru had to tame his wild thoughts as Chiryoshi turned a blinding smile on him, all pride for his star intern, and dammit, he couldn't back out and let the man who was such a mentor to him down now, could he?

And then, the final nail in his coffin -

Tsukino Ikuko approached on timid feet, but her eyes were still plying him with that look that made him feel like he should've been able to walk on water. Oh, if only she knew the enmity that existed between him and her daughter. Mamoru felt so unworthy of their faith. She stopped just in front of him and he shifted nervously.

"I just want to say..." Ikuko's voice cracked and she cleared it, trying again. "I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart, Chiba-san, for being willing to dedicate your time to helping my daughter-"

"Mama," Usagi cut in, trying to keep her tone even, but Mamoru could still detect the exasperation, embarrassment and irritation lurking deep within. He knew them well.

"Hush, you," Ikuko threw over to the girl, then turned back to Mamoru with tears in her eyes. "Anyways, I just... I just want you to know how much this means to us. Like Dr. Chiryoshi-san said, we're all struggling to adjust right now, but having you around will make the changes that much easier. So... thank you!"

Mamoru was nearly knocked back when the small woman surprised him with a very unexpected, very tight hug that just about broke a rib, and he had to try very hard not to wince as she bumped into his shoulder. It was still smarting from the hit he took during battle. He awkwardly patted her back and in that moment he knew, there really was no going back. He was going to teach Tsukino freaking Usagi, the Odango Atama, how to live without her eyes. It was a terrifying thought. He glanced over and saw that the aforementioned blonde was trying very hard to not gag. He immediately felt weird and began to extricate himself as politely as possible from her mother's embrace.

"You're welcome, Tsukino-san. It's... really nothing," he mumbled. "I like helping people."

Usagi let out a poorly disguised snort-turned-cough.

"You're a lovely boy," Ikuko declared. "I like him!"

This time, Usagi's displeasure was rather more pronounced. The glare she seemed to be leveling in his general direction was positively frosty. If looks could kill...

Dr. Chiryoshi interrupted the moment, and probably Mamoru's untimely demise, with another clap of the hands, drawing the attention back onto him. "So... Usagi-san. What do you say? Will you do it?"

The teen's face screamed deer in the headlights, and Mamoru didn't blame her; he felt much the same. But this was her chance to turn back. To demand someone else, anyone else but the man who made her every morning a living hell and she his. There was a looooong pause, and that's what Mamoru figured she was working up to do. He could already feel the sigh of relief building in his chest.

He was thoroughly shocked when she replied, softly and slowly, "Yes."

Mamoru gaped at Usagi. She looked miserable. Like she'd been backed into a corner and forced at gunpoint. And yet... she could have said no. They hated each other. Well, maybe hate was a strong word... but they definitely annoyed each other and were generally not fond of the other's existence. So why had she agreed? It made no sense.

As Dr. Chiryoshi started in on what they could expect in the coming weeks, Mamoru watched Usagi's face closely for any clues as to the reasoning for her answer, but found none. At the very least, he took solace in the fact that he clearly wasn't the only one dreading this arrangement.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Author's Note: Next chapter... Usagi and Mamoru aren't the only strained relationship around here! o_O Dun dun daaaa... Feel free to guess away on where this is going; I love hearing your theories, and the things you liked about this chapter, or what you hated, or what the weather is where you are, or really just any interaction with me because even the smallest review is HUGE encouragement! Thank you all for coming along with me on this ride! Especially Ruk, Astraearose-silvermoon, haruka-usagi-forever, TropicalRemix, Sesshy's Rose, Moon Bunny, Princesakarlita411, cindermane, GraphicsChyk, sailor silvimoon, phillynz, Moonlight Usagi-Chan, Aya Faulkner, Rufael, usakobunnymoon, jessielee14, Roxypockets1, Daire123, karseneau1, SaphireShimmer, Oreo596, and CassieRaven who reviewed last chappy. Wish I could bake you all cookies!

Stay tuned for the drama to come ;)

AngelMoon Girl