TITLE: Shallow sleep

AUTHOR: goddessmoonselene

NOTES: I reposted this story because I forgot the password to my old pen name. The title "Shallow sleep" is a song by Hyde. Sailor Moon is by no means mine, it is owned by Naoko Takeuchi. Comments of any kind will be highly appreciated

Bright rays of sunlight opened up the real beauty of nature, unleashing its colors. The earth looked like one giant globe of beauty, a picture of paradise. The wind passed by occasionally, as if teasing people with their angelic touches

that offered comfort. The sun was high above the blue sky adorned with cotton candy like clouds that look good enough to eat. The birds were chirping happily while others melodiously sang.

It was like a perfect day, despite the time, the sun wasn't as scorching as people expected it to be, seems like mother nature took pity on her people, after all, the sun wasn't as forgiving as it was before. While everyone enjoyed the vast amount of happiness and peace that the water offered, one young lady, however, was forced to go to the Hospital as per request of the doctor.

Tsukino Usagi was sitting at the patient's chair, fronting her doctor who was all too serious in reading her health records. Usagi never did like going to hospitals, they were giving her a sense of danger and somehow, sadness. Usagi

eyed the whole place like a curious little rabbit that she was. Her doctor lowered the folder and placed a smile on his face seeing Usagi like a child. He sighed heavily and gave out a fake cough to get the curious rabbit's

attention. Usagi looked back, slightly blushing at her own actions.

The doctor slumped back at his chair as it gave a slight squeaky sound. "Tsukino-san, as you know, you had a medical checkup last time you were here. Around last February? Am I correct?" The doctor began, and Usagi nodded.

"My mother told me to come here because it seemed to her that I looked paler than usual." Usagi explained briefly.

The doctor nodded and placed his elbows on the armchairs. "Usagi-chan, have you been feeling strange during those periods of time?" He seriously asked as he narrowed his gaze on the young woman.

Usagi looked up to have her brain rewind the events that happened before she had the checkup about a month ago. "Come to think of it." Usagi began, still looking up the white ceiling. "I have been feeling weak lately. I would often be "prone", connoting the term. I have been having dizzy spells for the past times. Doushite?"

The doctor sighed heavily. What did Usagi do to deserve this? He wasn't a believer at first, as he asked the people to check over and over again if it was possible. Not only one or two hospital checked on Usagi's condition, but five. Five same results finally made him into a believer. He rubbed the bridge of his nose as he took off his glasses.

"Usagi-chan," He began, placing his glasses back. "You... Your... you are ill Usagi." He said as simple as that, without telling her what.

Usagi was confused. Ill of what? There were probably millions of illness she could acquire... which one? "Of what doctor?" Usagi inquired innocently.

This is not going to be easy. The doctor thought. "Usagi, I regret to inform you... but... you are ill with Leukemia and A heart complication." The doctor finally blurted out, but it wasn't easy for him to say so.

Usagi's face was drained with color. She looked like someone who came out of their own grave, pale and white. Usagi tried to smile, but her attempts failed. "Demo... Isha (doctor) ... maybe...th-they w-were...m-mis-mistaken. I-it couldn't be... could it?"

The doctor moved back and got something from his drawer. He pulled out a folder and handed it to Usagi. "Gomen Usagi. But when five of the most renowned Hospitals in Japan tell you the same thing... it must be true."

Usagi couldn't breath. It was like her world fell on her like a ton of rocks from the highest mountain. Her hands were shaking as she tried to open the folder. She flipped the paper and found out that they all said the same thing. She looked back at the doctor with unshed tears.

"I'll explain to you the other one. It is when your heart grows too big that the body can not accommodate it anymore, therefore, the only thing that will happen

is..."

"Heart failure." Usagi trailed off, looking down. "This can't be!" Usagi yelled. "Why is this happening to me? Naze?" Usagi asked the doctor, looking at him, tears falling freely in her rosy cheeks.

The doctor shook his head in sympathy. "Gomen Usagi-chan. I can't answer that question." He said in defeat. "I wish I could do something, but... if you had your check up earlier..."

Usagi's lips began to quiver. She bit her lip to restrain herself. "Gomen." She weakly said. "I... it's not your fault. I...I guess... I... never mind." She looked up at the doctor and stood up. "I... I better be going."

The doctor stood up as well. "Usagi, allow me to accompany you outside at least." The doctor offered, offering his hand to her.

Usagi smiled gratefully at the doctor and took his hand. "Arigatou Isha." And with that, the two went out of his office and proceeded to the halls. They chatted about things to keep Usagi's mind preoccupied, at least for the time being. When they finally reached the end of the building where the entrance was located, the doctor looked at Usagi.

"Well kawaii Usagi, I guess this is where I leave you. Ki wo tsukete." The doctor reminded with a grin on his face, making Usagi turn a light shade of crimson.

Usagi bowed in gratitude to what her Isha was showing her. She walked away; her usual bubbly, skipping self was left behind. She looked all too serious for comfort, wondering how the people around her were going to react with her news. I can't. Usagi thought heavily. I can't say it. I don't want to see them sad. She added as tears threatened to fall.

She wasn't aware of where she was going or how long she was walking, she left it all to her feet and instincts to guide her wherever they wanted her to be, after all, they said that more often than not, the instinct is right, ne? As she looked up to see where she was, she saw Mamoru seated on the bench fronting the lake.

She smiled at the sight of him, while her heart was beating faster than the usual rate. She rushed down and gave Mamoru one of her famous bear hugs. Mamoru was startled to say the least when he was greeted by his heavenly princess.

"Mamo-chan!" Usagi squealed as she squeezed the life out of him. "Genki desu ka?" She excitedly asked.

Sighing, Mamoru looked back to see Usagi smiling like she always did, but something was missing in her smile, even in her cerulean orbs, the sparkle faded. "Usagi..." Mamoru called out, sounding formal and distant.

Usagi was taken a back by his tone and use of her name. "M-Mamo-chan?"

"Don't call me that Usagi." He simply said. It hurts me now, that you call me that. He thought sadly. Looking at her with a black stare, "Usagi, I have something to tell you." He said.

Uh oh. Usagi thought. When he says "we have something to talk" that usually means something deep. Usagi thought, panicking. "Okay Mamo...

"It's Mamoru, Usagi." Mamoru hissed which made Usagi worried. He was getting to be cold, as if he was telling her to get lost, but why?

Mamoru was the first to walk, with Usagi behind, roughly about ten footsteps away from him. Somehow, in Usagi's heart, she couldn't erase the feeling of dread that something wasn't right, and this wasn't one of those usual serious conversations they had.