AN: Well, I'd hoped to get this out sooner, but unfortunately 36 hours of tech for a dance concert one week and two papers due in another week has kept me busy. But at least the update is under a month this time! Thanks, as always, to my amazing reviewers: Imnotsurereally, AngelMoon Girl, lilymoon80, NoLife-sama, Danykasd, Jakeros, SereStarofGaea, Astraearose-silvermoon, Mercedes1312, jessicanicoleharp, slightlyxjaded, and sodasgirl1. Phew! You guys are seriously amazing, your support means the world to me.
Now, on to the chapter!
Esmeraude lounged in a chair, fluttering her fan and examining her nails. She'd sent not one, not two, but three of her most powerful droids, all in different parts of the city and all at three slightly different intervals, for maximum chaos and damage potential. She doubted the Senshi would be able to escape unscathed this time, no way. Of course… she might have neglected to mention to her droids to spare Sailor Moon, as per Prince Demande's orders, but what he didn't know couldn't hurt him, right?
"Such a clever little trick," a voice came from the shadows. "Sending out three droids… of course, in the chaos, accidents are bound to happen, and if poor little future Neo-Queen Serenity gets killed in the process, there would be no way to trace it back to you, right? Except of course I know."
Esmeraude scowled. "Wiseman. I don't know what you're talking about."
"Ah, but you do," he said, revealing himself. "I know everything, did you think this would fail to escape me? It would be such a shame if our Prince found out you went behind his back like this… no, he would not be happy indeed."
Esmeraude's eyes narrowed and she sat up fully. "I don't know what you're getting at. What do you want from me, Wiseman? Or do you just seek to taunt me with your knowledge?"
Wiseman laughed, the sound haunting and despite herself, Esmeraude felt a chill run down her spine. "Nothing, my dear Esmeraude. Nothing… yet, that is."
He disappeared into the shadows once more and Esmeraude slunk into her chair again, scowling. This was an unforeseen development, but no matter. She could handle Wiseman. Prince Demande would be hers and that filthy little Queen that had captured his interests so would die.
The coffee mug in Mamoru's hand fell to the floor, shattering instantly, but even as the scalding liquid sloshed over his feet, he didn't notice. This had to be some kind of nightmare, right? He was dreaming, and if he just closed his eyes or pinched himself, he'd wake up and everything would be okay. Usagi would be okay. Right?
"Mamoru?" Zoisite asked, his voice full of concern.
Mamoru squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them again. Zoisite was still there. He shut his eyes again and pinched his arm as hard as he could, before daring to look again. Still there.
"Mamoru… I know you're probably in shock, but let me drive you to the base, okay?" Zoisite's voice was carefully calm and even, as if he expected Mamoru to lash out at any moment.
Before Mamoru could respond, a sharp cry came from Chibiusa, and Mamoru whirled around to find the little girl doubled over, clutching herself.
"Chibiusa? What is it? What's wrong?"
"It hurts," she whimpered.
"What hurts?" Mamoru knelt down beside her.
"Everything," she said as another cry of pain escaped her. "Make it stop!"
Mamoru looked up at Zoisite with a panicked expression on his face. What now? He wasn't capable of rational thought, all he could hear was Zoisite's words, repeating over and over in his head. They're not sure if she's going to make it.
Zoisite frowned and knelt down beside Chibiusa as well, placing a hand on her forehead. "She's burning up. Was she feeling unwell earlier?"
Mamoru shook his head. "She was fine until just a few minutes ago. She's always been close with Usagi, maybe she overheard… what you said. But I don't know why that would cause physical symptoms."
"Come on, let's drop her off at the Tsukinos' house," Zoisite said, gathering her in his arms. "I don't think you're in any condition to look after her right now."
Mamoru nodded and blindly stumbled out of his apartment and towards his car. He had to keep it together, for Chibiusa's sake. The girl was clearly already upset, and he didn't want to add to her pain. He had to keep it together. Usagi would be okay. She had to be. Reaching the car, he fumbled for his keys, but Zoisite put a hand on his shoulder.
"You're in no condition to drive, either," he said. "You won't do Usagi any good if you get into an accident."
Wordlessly, Mamoru handed over the keys and climbed into the passenger seat as Zoisite set Chibiusa in the back before taking the wheel. As Zoisite drove, Mamoru could no longer keep his focus, and his heart beat in time with the words running through his head.
They're not sure if she's going to make it.
Mamoru's hands balled into fists in his lap, his knuckles turning white. They're not sure if she's going to make it.
Zoisite paused at a stop sign, and it seemed like eternity, Mamoru wanted to yell at him to hurry up, damnit, there was no time for this, he had to see Usagi he had to see that she would be okay with his own two eyes, she had to be okay. Had to be.
They're not sure if she's going to make it.
What would he do if she didn't? He could barely stand to think of it, even voicing the opportunity that she might not make it made it seem too real; he couldn't fathom the possibility that Usagi, his Usagi, Usako, light of his life, his soulmate in this life and all lives, might not make it. Why? He'd never been religious, but he sent a silent plea to whatever God or Gods might be listening. Please, let her live.
Were they always destined to be torn apart? Was fate really that cruel? Their loves had been cut short as Serenity and Endymion, but then they had found each other again in this life. They'd survived his brainwashing, his death, her death, their reincarnation, his temporary amnesia… against all odds, they'd survived it all, and they'd found each other time and again. But what now? One simple little youma attack and she was gone forever? It couldn't be. It wouldn't be, if he had any say in things.
The rest of the drive passed in a blur, he barely noticed when Zoisite pulled up in front of the Tsukinos' house to drop off Chibiusa. The Tsukinos. Usagi's family. What would they do if she died? He'd never really had a chance to meet them properly—in the few shorts weeks he and Usagi had been together before he ended things, they'd talked about having him come over for a proper family dinner, but they'd never gotten around to it. But he knew they deeply cared for her, as they should, and he knew how much she loved her family, her mother in particular.
He didn't think he'd be able to look them in the eye ever again if Usagi died. He was supposed to protect her. That was his entire job, as Tuxedo Kamen. He kept her safe. How had he failed so dismally? Why hadn't he felt that pull when she transformed, why hadn't he felt it when she was in danger?
"We're here," Zoisite said, shaking Mamoru out of his thoughts. He hadn't even realized they'd left the Tsukino household. He wordlessly followed Zoisite through the back entrance and down the spiral stairs into the base, his heart thudding painfully in his chest. The sight that met him only made his heart constrict further, the Senshi were all gathered around in varying stages of grief.
Minako sobbed quietly in the corner, Kunzite standing behind her and looking awkward as he tried to comfort her with a gentle hand on her shoulder. Haruka paced around the room, her hands balled into fists at her sides and her expression furious. Michiru just looked pained as she watched her girlfriend in such distress.
Makoto leaned against Nephrite, her eyes puffy and red, wiping away the occasional tear as he smoothed down her hair and murmured reassurances in her ear. Ami just looked weary and exhausted, her head in her hands, and when she glanced up to accept the mug of tea Zoisite offered her, she looked like a shell of her usual self, her face drawn and pale. Rei rocked back and forth, her arms curled tight around her knees, her head tucked underneath Jadeite's chin, the two of them for once not fighting.
Mamoru stood awkwardly in the doorway, not sure what to do. He felt like he was intruding on a very private moment, the grief of the Senshi as they mourned the potential loss of their friend and their Princess. He almost felt like he had no right to be there—after all, he was her Prince, but he'd abandoned her in her time of need. What kind of prince and partner did that make him?
Apparently, the Senshi seemed to agree that he had no right to be there, as Mamoru stepped through the doorway and the Senshi looked up and noticed him. Rei was the first one to react, leaping to her feet, fingers extended like claws, a feral scream tearing its way out of her throat.
"I swear to Kami I will claw your eyeballs out!" she screeched, and Jadeite had to hold her back. "You bastard! This is all your fault! Let go of me, Jadeite!"
"It's not worth it," Jadeite murmured.
"Like hell it is!" Rei shrieked. "It's all his fault, this wouldn't have happened otherwise. Bastard!"
Mamoru hung his head, dejected. "I know. I should have been there to protect her. But please, I need to see her." He glanced around wildly, hoping to find a friendly face, but all he was met with was blank, cold stares. Makoto cracked her knuckles pointedly, not breaking eye contact, Rei was still struggling against Jadeite, and everyone else just looked… dejected.
Finally, Ami sighed and stood up. "Fine, you can see Usagi. I'd like to have a word with you anyways, Mamoru."
Mamoru started forward, but before he could get very far, he was stopped by a hand on his chest. Haruka.
"Listen here, Chiba," she growled, fisting the material of his shirt and shoving her fist up against his throat so he could barely breathe. She leaned in close, so her face was just inches from his, and Mamoru had to resist the urge to flinch. "If for some unthinkable reason Usagi doesn't make it through this, I will end you. And if she wakes up and bears even the slightest animosity towards you, as she should, I will still end you. Understood?"
Mamoru nodded and swallowed nervously. "Understood."
"Now, get out of my sight before I decide to do something now," Haruka said, shoving him aside.
Mamoru stumbled after Ami, eager to finally see Usagi, he had to see her with his own two eyes, see for himself that she would be okay. Because she had to be. The alternative wasn't a possibility. Ami pushed aside the curtains and Mamoru stepped through into the medical area, where Usagi lay hooked up to various steadily beeping machines.
He collapsed on his knees beside the bed, gently brushing a hand over her forehead, pushing her bangs out of her face. "Usako." He glanced up at Ami. "How bad is it?"
"It's… bad," Ami admitted. "When we found her, she was unconscious, and it's hard to determine how long she was unconscious for before we found her. She has a severe concussion, three cracked ribs, a broken leg and two deep puncture wounds in her abdomen. She lost a lot of blood, and there was some internal bleeding as well. While I was treating the wounds… her heart stopped briefly. She had to be revived."
Mamoru sucked in a deep breath, not wanting to think too much about that. Usagi had died. He had come far too close to losing her. "Why isn't she in the hospital?" As soon as he asked the question, he knew it was stupid, and Ami's deadpan look only made him feel more like an idiot child.
"You know why. Usagi has an advanced metabolic system, and this includes a faster healing rate. We all do, none of us are fully human in the normal sense. If Usagi went to the hospital, they would notice this and run countless tests to try and understand it and see if it can be reverse-engineered. At best, Usagi's identity as Sailor Moon would be blown, at worst, her life would be ruined."
Mamoru hung his head. "I know. You're right, I just… panicked." He paused, thinking things over. "But… how did you do all this? Last I checked you were studying to be a doctor, but not a world-class surgeon."
Ami smiled slightly. "I've been working on something for the past few months, at the suggestion of Luna and Artemis. As the enemies become more and more dangerous, we need to be prepared. Traditional medical care is an impossibility for us, so I needed to find a way to ensure our safety through other means." She grabbed a remote control off the end table and pressed a few buttons. A second later, there was a soft whirring sound, and a robot wheeled into sight.
"That's… wow." Mamoru blinked. "What… is that?"
"Mamoru, meet Ishi," Ami said and the robot beeped a few times. "Ishi is our doctor. He's still a prototype, and I wasn't planning on testing him any time soon, but he rose to the occasion. I programmed all my medical textbooks into him, as well as any videos I could find of surgeries being performed. Ideally, he would also have the capacity to learn on his own, but I'm still working on that."
"That's amazing," Mamoru said softly.
"Indeed it is," Ami said. "He saved Usagi's life."
"Will…" Mamoru swallowed and forced himself to ask the question, though he couldn't tear his eyes away from Usagi's face. "Will she be okay?"
"I don't know," Ami said quietly, and when she looked up, her eyes were brimming with tears. "We've done all we can, but… Usagi suffered some pretty bad damage. She's stable now, at least, but her vitals are pretty weak. Ishi and myself are on constant alert in case she goes into cardiac arrest again. And even if she doesn't… there's a chance she won't wake up. I've run countless tests, and while her rate of healing is still more advanced than an average human, the silver crystal seems almost… dormant."
Mamoru frowned. "What do you mean, it's dormant?" His frown deepened as he thought about what that might mean. "The silver crystal is her life force. Is it dormant because she was injured? What does it mean for her if it's dormant?"
Ami ran a hand through her hair. "I'm not entirely sure, but I have a theory. You see, I've been doing a lot of research these past few months, about how our Senshi powers work and the best way to hone them and reach our full potential."
"Okay…" Mamoru said slowly, not sure where this was going.
"Out Senshi powers are intrinsically tied into our innate spiritual nature. Chi, if you will. At our best, chi flows through us freely, and we can access our Senshi powers with ease. But sometimes there are things that cause disruptions, things that block the spiritual energy, and it can hinder our abilities or even completely block them off from us," Ami said.
"So… you think something is blocking off Usagi's… chi?" Mamoru asked.
Ami nodded. "And I think I know what, too." She pinned him with a cool glare. "You and Usagi have always been linked. From the moment you fell in love in the Silver Millennium as Prince Endymion and Princess Serenity, perhaps even before that, your destinies have been linked. By breaking up with Usagi, you disrupted that, causing her energy to slowly run off track, interfering with her Senshi abilities."
Mamoru swallowed. "But… that was weeks ago. Why now?"
Ami sighed. "If you drop a stone into a pond, it doesn't just affect the area you dropped it. Ripples spread outwards from the shock, disrupting parts of the pond that the pebble never touched. It's a similar effect here. While the trauma of the breakup was weeks ago, it set Usagi slightly off-balance, not enough to notice at first, but the more off-balance she becomes the faster she becomes even further off-balance."
Her yes narrowed and she continued. "Did you know that when we found Usagi she wasn't transformed? She called us before, to say that there was a youma, so she clearly wasn't caught off-guard. I can only assume that she couldn't transform, because the Silver Crystal has lost its shine. Because the innate spiritual energy that allows her to access the Senshi powers has been disrupted and thrown off-balance. Because you broke up with her."
Mamoru winced. "Please, no more."
"No, Mamoru," Ami said. "You need to hear this. I don't know why you broke up with her, but I know it's not because you don't love her. Any idiot can see that you still do. So why? Why cause her so much pain? You need to see just how much damage you have caused."
Mamoru dropped his head into his hands. "I… I was scared. I told Usagi I didn't remember my time when I was brainwashed by the Dark Kingdom, but that's a lie. I remember every second of it. And the worst part is, it wasn't like I was trapped inside my own mind, aware of my actions and trying to stop them but being unable. I remember what it felt like to hurt Usagi and like it."
He shuddered. "Every night, I'm haunted by the memories of torturing her, nearly killing her. I'm supposed to protect her, and I failed. As long as the enemy knows of my love for her, and her love for me, I will be a danger to her. I can barely live with myself as is, knowing that the enemy turned me into a tool to hurt her, but if it happened again? It can't. I couldn't bear it. So… I broke up with her. I thought she'd be safer if I kept my distance, so the enemy couldn't use me against her."
Ami's expression softened a little and she sighed. "While I can't pretend to know what that's like… do you honestly think that Usagi's safer away from you? Or that breaking up with her to keep her safe from you is a wise course of action? You can't let fear of the enemy control you, Mamoru. Usagi always has been and always will be safer with you there to watch her back."
"I know," Mamoru said, his voice thick with unshed tears. "I messed up. But… please, let me fix it." He looked up, an idea suddenly coming to him. "I have healing powers. I can help Usagi. Please, let me do this."
Ami considered it for a moment, then stepped back and gestured towards Usagi. "Very well. You've certainly helped her plenty of times before, let's hope you can do it again. I'll give you a moment." She turned to leave, but paused with her hand on the curtain. "Oh, and Mamoru? If, God forbid, Usagi doesn't pull through this, or if you ever hurt her again, I will kill you."
Mamoru shuddered as Ami left. Despite Rei's screeching and attempt to claw his eyes out, or Haruka's show of force and intimidation or Makoto's threatening glares… it was Ami's quiet promise of harm that sent a chill down his spine. Despite her calm demeanor, he believed her threat more than anything else, and knew that if she wanted, she could kill him and make it look like an accident.
Pushing that thought aside, he glanced down at Usagi, gently running his thumb across her cheek and searching for some sign of consciousness, but none came, there was just her steady, shallow breathing and weak, thrumming pulse.
"I'm so sorry," he murmured, brushing aside her bangs and pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead and squeezing his eyes shut against the tears. "Please, if you can hear me, hang in there. I love you, Usako."
No response came, not even a fluttering of eyelashes, and he couldn't quite stop a few tears from falling. Brushing them away, he settled his hands on her abdomen, not quite sure what to do. He'd used his healing powers to help her before, but always in the heat of the moment, while in the midst of battle. He just… did it without thinking. But he couldn't just sit there and do nothing, not with such high stakes, so he closed his eyes and tried to summon the healing powers deep within him. They'd saved his life as a child in the car crash, please, please let them save Usagi's life now.
After a minute, he felt a warm, tingling sensation in his hands and he dared to crack open his eyes. His hands, and Usagi's abdomen, were covered in a faint white light, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Please let this work, he thought. It had to.
He wasn't sure how long he sat there, but at some point, Ami came back in and put a hand on his shoulder, breaking him out of his reverie.
"Mamoru. You can stop now."
"Usagi? Is she…?" he trailed off, not sure what he was going to say. Is she awake? One glance confirmed that she wasn't. Is she dead? Surely not, he could still hear the beeping of the machine.
"Her vitals have improved," Ami said. "Her pulse is stronger, steadier, and the scans are showing increased Silver Crystal activity."
"I should keep going, then!" Mamoru protested.
Ami shook her head. "You've done all you can, the rest is up to Usagi. But… I think she's out of danger now."
"You think?" Mamoru narrowed his eyes, suspicious of what that word implied.
Ami sighed. "I can't know for sure. We don't know how long she was unconscious for before we found her, how much damage was done. Her pulse is steady and strong, she's stable, but it doesn't change the fact that right now, technology is keeping her breathing. There's a very good chance that she just needs to heal a little longer and will wake up soon, but I can't guarantee it."
"I'm not stopping until she wakes up," Mamoru growled.
Ami shook her head again. "You've been at this for hours. Usagi needs her rest, and so do you. Go home, Mamoru, get some sleep. No offense, but you look like death; when was the last time you even slept?"
Mamoru avoided Ami's gaze. Truth be told, he hadn't been sleeping properly since the breakup, he was plagued by nightmares and guilt. Even before then, sleep had been hard—too many memories of his time brainwashed by the Dark Kingdom and Queen Beryl—but at least he'd had Usagi to brighten his days.
Ami sighed. "About what I thought. Go sleep, I'll call you the second anything changes."
Mamoru shook his head. "I'm not leaving her side."
Ami frowned. "At the very least, go crash in a chair outside, if you refuse to go home. But Usagi needs rest, and as her doctor, I declare visiting hours to be over."
Grumbling, Mamoru dragged himself from the chair by Usagi's bedside and pushed aside the curtain that closed off her bed area from the rest of the base. Everyone was still gathered around, but this time, no one paid him any attention as he found the nearest chair and plopped down into it. He couldn't see Usagi, but at least he was only a few feet from her bedside, and it would have to do. Settling in with a sigh, he was surprised by how exhausted he was, and his eyelids started to droop to a close. He doubted he'd be able to get much rest, but perhaps he'd at least be able to doze for an hour or two.
Minako sat in the corner of the room, as far away from everyone else as she could get, her knees drawn up into her chest, her head heavy and resting on her knees.
"Coffee?" a voice asked, and Minako looked up. Not that she needed to, she'd recognize that voice anywhere. Kunzite. She hated how easily she recognized his voice, his scent, his goddamn presence. It was driving her crazy.
"Thanks," she croaked, her voice hoarse from tears and exhaustion. Carefully, she untangled her arms from around her knees and accepted the coffee, inhaling the heady smell of roasted beans.
Kunzite lingered for a moment, shifting from foot to foot awkwardly. "I… I know you hate me. But if there's anything else I can do, let me know. You don't have to be alone."
He waited for a moment, but when Minako didn't say anything, he turned to walk away. He was almost out of earshot when Minako spoke.
"I don't hate you," she whispered.
Kunzite paused and turned to look back at her, arching an eyebrow. "Really?" His tone was dry, though there was a hint of bitter amusement in it. "You sure act like it. The only interaction we've had, you wouldn't even look at me, you shut yourself behind a door and screamed and cried at me. Ever since, you've been overly formal and polite, interacting with me as little as possible. I understand why, but your feelings seem pretty clear."
Minako sighed and tilted her head back at the ceiling. "Do you know what it's like being the Senshi of Love? I can see bonds between people—I can feel them. The stronger they are, the more potent the feeling. I've learned to separate other people's emotions from my own, but when they are my own…" she trailed off.
"I'm hyper-aware of your presence. I could recognize your voice, your scent, your general presence anywhere. The minute you walk into a room, I can tell. Every time we're in the same room, every cell in my body is screaming out at me to just forget it, to forget the past and just run to you." She laughed bitterly. "The downside of soulmates. Because whether I like it or not, you're my soulmate and always will be. Nothing can break that bond. So no, Kunzite, I don't hate you, but I keep trying to anyways. I wish I could hate you."
"I'm… sorry," Kunzite said after a moment, his voice thick with emotion. "Truly. I know I've hurt you, and I know nothing I say can ever repair that damage. But I'm not giving up on you, Minako. I love you. I will always love you. And if you don't want me around, I understand. I will keep my presence, I will be nothing more than colleague and ally, helping fight a common enemy. If that's what you want, I swear I will do it and I will never bother you again. But is that what you really want?"
"I…" Minako trailed off. It would be so easy to just say yes, to get him out of her mind, out of her life, never have to be bothered again. But it would also be a lie. "I don't know what I want," she admitted, her voice cracking.
Kunzite crouched down next to her. "I'm not going anywhere, not unless you tell me to. When you make up your mind, I'll be here. And if you ever want me, I'm yours."
Minako broke down sobbing at that, clutching herself as she gasped for air. Why did this man make her feel like this? Why couldn't she stay composed whenever she was around him? He threw her off-balance and she hated it.
"Minako…" Kunzite placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and she turned and flung herself into his arms, clutching onto his shirt and sobbing. She cried for everything—she cried for Usagi, lying there, just barely hanging on to life; she cried for Aphrodite, the woman she used to be, who met such a tragic end; she cried for her and Kunzite's past and all the hurt they both suffered, but most of all she cried because she knew she was losing this battle. She couldn't not love this man, it was impossible.
"I hate you," she sobbed, but they both knew it wasn't true as Kunzite smoothed her hair and soothed her.
"Shh, I know, it's okay," he murmured.
After several minutes, the sobs slowly subsided, until there were only sniffles left. "I missed you so much," she whispered, still clinging onto Kunzite, afraid to meet his gaze, afraid that maybe now that he knew how much work it would be, he wouldn't be interested.
But instead his arms just tightened around her and she felt him press a kiss to the top of her head. "I missed you, too, Minako. So much. When I was brainwashed by the Dark Kingdom… I had no memories of my past life. No memories of you or Endymion of the Earth Kingdom. But even though I was a loyal servant to Queen Beryl and never doubted myself or what I was doing… some part of me felt empty. I didn't know what it was at the time, why I could never truly be happy, but now I know. It was you, Minako. Even when they took away my memories and my sense of self, I still couldn't entirely forget you. The moment I set eyes on you again, I felt more whole and at peace than I had since our time together in the Silver Millennium."
His words set Minako crying again, and it took her a minute to find her voice. "I… felt similarly. I used to think that it was some cruel joke, that I was the Senshi of Love and yet I couldn't find any lasting connection myself. Everything felt… empty. And shallow. Meaningless. And then when I started remembering my past life, it just made things worse, because I realized why I felt like there was a hole in my life, but you were dead and that was lost to me forever. Worse than that, you'd been corrupted by the Dark Kingdom, what made you you was gone."
She sucked in a deep, shuddering breath and looked up at him. "But then I saw you in the courtyard… claiming you were back, for real, that you were yourself again… and my heart shattered. Because I knew it was only a matter of time before I ran back into your arms, because there's a piece of me that lives in you, but I hated it. I didn't want to love you, after everything we've been through. I was terrified of history repeating itself, and I still am. But I also know that it's inexorable. I can't stop myself from loving you anymore than I can stop my heart from beating."
Kunzite gently stroked her cheek, brushing away the few stray tears that lingered. "I swear, Minako, I will do everything in my power to protect you, defend you and love you until the day I die. I won't let anything separate us, not ever again."
"Good," Minako said, nuzzling up against him. "Because I'm not letting you leave me again. You're stuck with me."
"I can think of worse things," Kunzite laughed, kissing the top of her head against, and despite all the heartache of the day, Minako smiled.
The first thing Usagi was aware of was pain. Everything hurt. Why was she in so much pain? Slowly, the memories came back to her. The youma. Being unable to transform. Nearly dying. She shot up in bed, her eyes wide. How was she alive? What had happened?
"Easy there," Ami said, though she was grinning from ear, and her eyes were shiny with tears. "You've taken some serious damage."
"What… happened?" Usagi asked. "How did I get here? Last thing I remember… the youma…"
"We found you in the alley," Ami said. "We traced your comm signal. You'd… you'd been pretty seriously injured. We weren't sure if you'd make it." She started to cry, and Usagi placed a comforting hand on her friend.
"Thank you," she said. "For everything."
Ami smiled and nodded, through the tears. "I'm just so glad you're awake. How are you feeling?"
"Like I've been attacked by a youma," Usagi said, laughing a little. "Everything hurts. But at least that means I'm alive, right?"
"Yes," Ami said. "Yes it does. Stay here, you still need to rest. I'll go tell the others, we've all been worried sick."
Usagi leaned back against the pillows, and despite the pain, she smiled. She was alive. When she'd been cornered by the youma in the alley… she didn't think she was going to make it, but she did. She was alive.
AN: You guys didn't REALLY think I'd kill off Usagi, did you? ;-) As always, please review!
