Chapter 3

Raye rides up the elevator pondering the happenings of the last few months. She could hear in Mamoru's voice that something is wrong, so she tries to calm herself before she sees him. Usagi is her friend and she is very protective of her just as Ami, Minako, and Makoto are, but sometimes Raye can say and do things before thinking when it comes to Usagi. She finally pulls herself out of her thoughts and finds herself in front of Mamoru's door. She takes a deep breath and lets it slowly out before knocking on Mamoru's door.

The door slowly opens, and she steps inside. She looks around the room in puzzlement. Mamoru, the normally clean and organized person, has things scattered every where. She looks back at him and can see that something is very wrong. She can see the dark circles that are under his eyes from lack of sleep. Her concern is now not only for Usagi, but now it is also for Mamoru.

"I am ready for your lecture and you being angry with me." Mamoru tells her. She can hear the exhaustion in his voice.

Raye looks at him intently without saying a word. She can see a faint dark cloud that seems to be surrounding him. "Mamoru," She says with a sigh.

"You know that there is something wrong, don't you?"

"We're not kids anymore." She reminds him. "I have more time to devote to my studies as a priestess now. Granted, I am still not good enough to know everything, but I can still tell when there is something wrong with the people that I love."

"You know that you can't help me with this, don't you?"

"I am beginning to understand a little more as to what is happening."

"How is she?" Tears fill his eyes as he asks about Usagi.

"I will not lie to make you feel better or save you from the truth. She is devastated." Raye pauses and looks at him. She can see the tears that fill his eyes. "She is not as dumb as we think she is. She has figured out that she is not only losing you, she is losing Chibi Usa as well."

"I am trying to figure it all out, and find an answer to this mess."

"I am worried about both of you. I see dark clouds around both of you, but I can't see what is causing it or how to fix it."

"Raye, you and the others take care of her. She's not the same little girl I fell in love with. She is the young woman that I care about more then life itself, but so far the only solution that I have is going to destroy her."

"I wish you could tell me what was going on so I can help you?"

"I don't think there is anything you can do except to take care of Usako. There are times that I feel we are doomed to be plagued with trouble for all of our lives. Don't we deserve some happiness with everything that has happened to all of us over the centuries?"

Raye stares at Mamoru, trying to figure out what she can say to comfort her friend. The silence of the room is broken by her communicator going off. Mamoru looks at Raye and waits for her to answer its call. A feeling of dread fills them as she reaches for her communicator. Mamoru glances out the balcony window as Raye answers it. Minako's face appears on the screen with tears in her eyes.

"What's wrong?" Raye asks.

"I walked out of the room for just a few minutes," Minako begins as tears start to fall down her cheeks. "I heard her start to call Mamoru's name in her sleep, so I came running into the room. As I ran in, I saw her run out the other door. I haven't been able to find her." She sobs.

"We'll find her Minako."

"Ami and Makoto are already looking. I'm heading out now." She says as she wipes her eyes.

"Mamoru and I will be looking as well." Raye says as she looks over at Mamoru. "You are going to help, aren't you?"

"Raye," he begins.

"I know you know that she is in trouble. We will all protect you and Usa, you know that, don't you?"

Raye doesn't wait for Mamoru's answer before she turns and runs out the door. Mamoru sighs and shakes his head. He has a bad feeling that no matter what he does something bad is about to happen.