Hot. Why was it hot?
Burning sensations danced through her body, as if she was roasting atop a cooking fire. She felt physically frail and mentally foggy, as if some type of drug had claimed her. Her face was heated and she was sweating cups of perspiration. Her forehead the worst, as if someone had deliberately taken a match to it.
Was she in Hell?
But… most of all… she felt as if she was falling. Always falling. Falling off-balance. Falling through the air. Falling for the sake of others. Falling. . . in love.
Cold pressed against her forehead then, cooling some of the volcanic waves that had been roasting her inside and out, and relieving her of her plummet. She heard a moan, and seconds later realized it had been her own.
Her eyes fluttered open. Someone was hovering over her, and she blinked a couple of times before the blurry scene could become clear. With such long dark locks, some of which dangled down over the blonde's face, and midnight orbs, intense enough to decipher the soul, she instantly recognized the 'someone' to be Rei-chan.
The fire senshi sat on her knees beside her, leaning over Usagi with, what the blonde now realized, a wet washrag and was bearing it down upon her forehead. Usagi, however, was lying down, a few feet away from the shrine's sacred fire that was sometimes read by Rei and used for identifying enemies or monsters. And, with blankets swallowing her. No wonder she felt so warm. Yet, something told her that neither the fire or the blankets were causing what she feeling now.
Rei-chan's eyes suddenly softened ever so slightly as she removed the washrag and placed it into her lap. Her face filled with relief and a grateful smile slipped upon her lips. "You're awake."
Usagi fidgeted in the layers, easing herself to sit up, then regretted it as the world began to spin. "What happened?" The curious Rabbit questioned. "How did I fall asleep?"
"You blacked out."
"How? Did an enemy hit me?"
"No."
"Did I eat too many sweets?"
"No."
"Was it Mamo-chan's love that caused it?"
It only took a moment for the miko's features to twist in irritated concern. "You have a fever, Usagi… A damn fever."
"Oh." The Rabbit blinked naively. "When did I catch a fever?"
"I don't know! You must have had one before you came over!" Rei clenched her fists around the washrag in annoyance.
It took a second for this to register. Once it did, she turned to look forward and commented with a "I see…" Huh. Having a fever must have been pretty bad. It sure did feel bad. Her head was still spinning slightly, and her temperature had to be high for her to feel so hot.
There was a moment of silence. Rei cleared her throat, causing the blonde to look back at her. "Anyway," she began, "I'll go get you a new wet cloth." She stepped to her feet and stared at Usagi sternly, emphasizing her words with a pointed index finger. "You rest. Don't get up. If you need anything, I'll get it for you."
Usagi gaped, her eyebrows raised in pleading. "But—"
"No 'but's!"
Her hand clasped Rei's hand tightly while the fingers of her other hand curled around the ravenette's wrist. Her sapphire orbs begging. Pleading. "But… I need you."
Rei's face became a blank slate. Had she heard her correctly? She blinked a couple of times, understandably taken aback by this statement and unsure what to think of it. "What?"
"I need you to stay here with me." Usagi said, squeezing her friend's hand in her own. "Please?" She asked in sweet honey. "We were going to bond, anyway, right? Since it was only the two of us?"
Rei bit her lip. She needed to take care of Usagi, but she didn't want to deny her request. After a moment, though, she finally gave in. Usagi was the sickly guest, after all. It would have been unfair to deny her this once.
"Alright," The fire senshi sighed, handing the cloth to Usagi and sitting back down beside her on her knees. She allowed a grin to grace her features. "What do you want to do?"
Usagi smiled broadly, her cerulean eyes glistening in surprised happiness. Her face lit up like a candle in excitement. "Really?" She could barely believe her ears! It was the first time in a million years Rei-chan had ever agreed with her! Was it because she was sick? Or, was Rei just feeling generous? Hm. She must have gotten a kiss from Yuuchiro sometime while she had been sleeping.
"Yes, Usagi." She exasperated. "Don't make me change my mind." A playful wink was directed toward the Rabbit.
Naturally, the blonde blushed slightly, but tried not to focus on that. On her nervousness. Instead, she placed an index finger on the tip of her chin and began to think. To brainstorm the things they could do together. Something that wasn't too strenuous because of her fever, but something they would both enjoy…
The princess smirked mischeviously. Oh, the things she could think up.
Twister? No... Too active.
Old Maid? Too Boring.
Sailor V? Maybe... but Rei-chan wasn't very fond of T.V. Or video games. That was more her and Mina-chan's thing.
Hmmm.
But, maybe they didn't have to play anything. Maybe...
"Aha!" A lightbulb clicked in her head and she snapped her fingers, wearing an excited grin. "I know!"
The raventte, who had been drumming her fingers and growing impatient, paused. She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"We could play.. charades!" Her enthusiasm was radiant, her emotions washing over her fevered condition for the time being. She clapped her hands like a child, two small clicks, and squealled as if she had just been promised a trip to the candy store. "We could even invite everyone over to play with us! Even Mamo-chan!"
Rei-chan, on the other hand, was unaffected by the blonde's epiphanic moment and remained less than thrilled. She did, however, admire how much energy she still had after seeming so ill earlier, but, of course, wouldn't neccesarily say so. Practical and refined, the miko crossed her arms and gave her friend a strict glare. "I.. don't think so, Odango-atama."
Usagi's face fell into puzzle pieces. "Why not?" She asked rebelliously. "I can't be that sick!"
"But, you are!" She snapped, concern pouring from her amethysts. Rei looked away then, the mauve colour of her eyes sliding to the side as her features followed suit in becoming sincere. "Usagi..." She hesitated a moment before saying her next words. Then, she decided the blonde had a right to know. "You've been here for three days."
"Three days?!" Usagi shouted, more than shocked. She would have been speechless if it hadn't have been for the immediate worry-filled questions that came to mind. "Did you tell my parents? Do the others know? Is everyone okay?"
"Of course I told them, and they're all doing fine." She glanced back at Usagi reassuringly, yet there was an edge, a catch, an unspoken secret, lurking behind those eyes.
Usagi sensed something off, something bad. She nearly held back, but couldn't. She had to ask. She had to know. "And, Mamo-chan?" Anticipation swallowed her heart. She stared at Rei, hoping that he was alright. Hoping that she was wrong - that nothing had happened.
"He's okay." She promised. "But.. there's something you should know." All it took was one beat. A determined face. One serious look.
Usagi waited, understanding that whatever Rei had to say, it was important. And, it probably meant trouble.
She allowed her voice decrease to barely a whisper. "Someone else is here."
