The same evening found Serena Tsukino lying in bed asleep. Her sheets were half-clenched in her hand, but mostly bunched at the floor. Sweat dripped from her brow as her teeth clenched and her face contorted in pain. Her petite form writhed also. Suddenly, she turned over to face the window to her left. Her body slackened a bit afterwards as her dream apparently calmed down.
From the door an ageless cat with black fur watched her master anxiously. Her golden eyes held an abnormal intelligence and wisdom. Meanwhile, the crescent shaped bald spot glowed in the moonlight streaming from Serena's window. Though, silent and still, the cat's heart went out to Serena.
"Oh, Serena…," Luna purred quietly.
"Tuxedo Mask…..Where are you?" she breathed between still clenched teeth. She turned over again and shuddered before jolting upright, fully awake. Suddenly tears crystallized in her big blue eyes and she put her face in her hand. Serena shook from her tears. She continued to cry through half the night as Luna purred in anxiety.
After school Serena rushed from detention to meet her friends at the arcade. Serena had been late that morning, of course, due to the lack of sleep that night. She didn't feel sorry for herself, just…helpless. Her gloomy thoughts had continued through the day and only worsened after falling asleep in class. Amy, Lita, and Mina visible worried about her, but she simply shrugged off their prying with her famous smiles. It didn't fool anyone who knew her well, though.
The rain started pelting the ground a block before she reached the arcade. She mentally screamed at her rotten luck.
A piercing and deep sound cracked the sky causing Serena to shriek in fear and leap out of her skin. Suddenly, the rain halted, though the sound of the storm continued. Slowly, Serena looked up and met the fiery eyes that barely concealed concern.
"Serena!" Raye softly said with only a hint of irritation.
Seconds later the pair was again walking to the arcade. Raye held her umbrella protectively over the two of them.
"Serena, what's been going on?" Raye asked seriously. She continued to walk but eyed Serena from the corner of her eye occasionally.
"Wh-what do you mean?" Serena attempted. Her innocent act failed to impress the raven haired priestess. Serena could hear Raye huff at Serena's lame attempt at denial.
"I know you better than that! What kind of best friend would I be if I couldn't see that you're hurting," Raye retorted. Serena nodded silently. Her feet looked particularly interesting at the moment. Raye decided to try again.
"Serena, I see your puffy eyes. So, you've obviously been crying. From a block away I could tell how deep in thought you are. Could it be – Tuxedo Mask?"
Suddenly, Serena stumbled, silently hoping that the perceptive girl beside her didn't realize her mistake. Raye noted it, but didn't say anything. Serena merely looked up and spotted the arcade doors sliding open a few feet away from her. Three umbrellas, of orange, green, and blue all appeared simultaneously. Raye placed a hand on Serena's shoulder to stop her before they joined the trio.
"Serena, if Tuxedo Mask can survive saving your butt regularly in battle without injury, he can survive a lil' Negamonster," Raye joked. "I'm sure his human form is out somewhere roaming the streets right now." Raye smiled down on her blond haired friend hoping she was reassured anew.
Unaware of Raye's new train of thought, Serena beamed up at Raye, grateful for her consolation.
"Oh, hi Serena. Hi Raye," Amy spoke from below her blue umbrella. Lita and Mina stood besides her looking slightly distracted. Each held a cat, Mina, Artemis and Lita, Luna, in their arms.
"Oh hi guys. Where are you headed in this weather?" Raye asked cheerfully. Serena tried to match Raye's pep, but the sound of thunder kept sending chills down her spine.
"We were just about to go to the hospital where Amy's mom works and help out. If I were a patient there I wouldn't want this weather, on top of everything else, popping my balloons," Mina said matter-of-factly.
"Don't you mean, raining on your parade," Raye said cynically from under her breath. Meanwhile, Amy spoke.
"Yeah, I've been volunteering there by myself, but recently my mom asked if I would bring you all with me next time I come."
"Well, guys I'd love to keep up this conversation," Lita interjected sarcastically, "But could we please go somewhere dry. My socks are getting soaked." As they jogged in the direction of the Memorial Hospital down the street, Serena struggled to keep up with her four friends. The noises cracking the sky continuously made her stop and shudder, before continuing. Serena mentally chastised herself for not being as strong as the other scouts.
After this repeated for thirty seconds, Serena felt Lita clasp her hand. Lita continued running but pulling Serena along at her speed. Serena smiled to herself at her friend's kindness.
Surely, in a couple minutes the teenagers reached their destined safe haven. Amy led the way as she was the most familiar with the hospital. When she stopped at the info desk to reach her mother the others stayed a few feet behind her.
Mina set down her camera case as Luna and Artemis jumped to the ground. She lifted the expensive camera out of its case and told Lita to turn around.
"Why?" Lita asked untrustingly.
"Because I need to put my camera in your backpack so that Luna and Artemis can stay in my case. You know cats aren't allowed in hospitals." The two cats at her feet looked at each other uncomfortably.
"We have to sit in there?!" they thought.
"I know that, but why my backpack? You have your own," Lita bickered. Mina giggled. "I'm afraid I might klutz out like Serena, fall on my backpack, and break it."
Raye shot Mina a menacing glare that made her shiver. She arched her shoulders and looked questionably back.
"What did I say?" she mouthed.
Mina looked at Serena who seemed completely unaware of the joke made at her expense. Actually, she seemed as if in a trance. Serena was standing in the middle of the hallway. She observed all the doors lined against both walls. She estimated that there were twenty doors in total. That was up until where the hallway branched into two more corridors.
"How many patients are here," she pondered to herself.
Serena wondered what it would be like to be confined to a hospital bed with only a television and the occasional flowers as a companion. The thought didn't please her.
"I don't know what's wrong with Serena, but I hope this visit brings out her old caring and cheerful self," Mina whispered to Raye and Lita. They nodded in agreement.
"That was the plan." The girls spotted a pair of doctors walking towards them. Then, they looked at the two cats on the beige tiled floor.
"You two know the drill. In the case," Mina ordered. Artemis backed away slowly.
"Uh, me and Luna decided that we'd rather tough it out outside. You know, where there's freedom," the white haired cat managed to say before darting towards the doors. Luna followed soon after.
"Artemis, wait for me!" Luna cried. Just as she reached him a stout man with a briefcase walked in allowing the duo passage to the outside.
"At least the storm calmed since we entered the hospital," Raye said to her friends.
A manly voice in the opposite direction caught all three girls' attention. They turned around to see Serena and Amy standing across from the two doctors seen walking towards them before. Serena shook the hand of the older male who wore a trench coat and bowler hat. Then, the middle-aged female brunette clasped both Serena's hands in a warm gesture.
"It's so nice to meet you Serena. I've heard nothing but good things from my daughter," the woman smiled down through youthful-looking glasses at the small blonde.
"Nice to meet you Ms. Anderson," Serena replied politely. Mina, Lita, and Raye sweatdropped. This was Amy'smom The reason for their surprise was obvious; Amy and her mom looking nothing alike. Ms. Anderson was nearly a foot taller than her daughter. Also, she seemed more youthful. She contrasted Amy's conservativeness with a mini skirt that suggested playfulness. Despite this, they still shared the same air of wisdom and authority. What really set the two apart was their hair. Amy's mom had natural, auburn-colored hair that went halfway down he back. Amy's trademark blue, short haircut showed no signs of relation to her mother.
"Well, what did we expect?" Lita asked the two beside her.
"Amy's Sailor Mercury, she actually has reason to have blue hair," Raye added. Mina got over the shock the quickest and walked ahead to meet the, until then, mysterious female. Lita and Raye followed close after. After the introductions were made, the male known as Mr. Grant, left the building. Apparently, he was leaving for a conference and wouldn't return for another month. Ms. Anderson was now looking after her patients and his, also.
After thirty minutes, and a lecture on health privacy, the girls were clad in nametags and free to visit patients.
"Amy, dear, would you please take these three on a tour of the building. I wanted to talk with Serena for a while, if you don't mind." Amy merely nodded and led the rest of her friends away. They all looked at her unsure of whether it was a good idea to leave Serena just now. Finally, they continued heading away with confidence that she was in secure hands.
Serena stood awkwardly watching her friends leave her. When Ms. Andersen had singled her out she felt abruptly anxious and fearful. Serena built up courage, turned on her heels, and looked up at Amy's mom who stood patiently to her left.
"Serena-," Ms. Anderson began. Promptly, Serena interrupted her.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I just wanted to assure you that I won't ever ask her again to let me copy her homework. I mean, it was just that one time," Serena fiddled with her feet but continued talking, "And I can try harder on my own. Amy's such a big help, but sometimes I just can't understand things like why letters can be used in math and such and it's so hard-." Serena clasped her hands over her mouth before she could say more.
Miss Anderson chuckled.
"I see Amy was right." Serena, though comforted by the older woman's laughter, was afraid of her meaning.
"About my study habits?" Serena asked ruefully.
"No, about your gift for cheering people up. Actually, I have a request of you," she looked at the blonde who reclaimed her look of uncertainty, "I wanted to know if you would mind working with a specific patient of mine? His name is Darien Shields. He's only a little older than you, but he has an unusual problem. He has mysterious injuries with no recollection of the past year. Since he lost his family years ago, his problems are compounded."
Serena's breath caught in her throat.
"You mean to say, he is not only hurt, but-alone," Serena asked shocked. The word seemed foreign to her but here it was. Though, she had never known what it felt like to be alone, she understood how horrible it was from accounts by her friends. She was just grateful that in her life there were always people that cared for her.
"Sadly, yes. Do you think you can handle such a responsibility?" Serena met Ms. Anderson's eyes with all the determination she could muster.
"Yes, I will do everything I can to make him better. I may not be able to use medicine, but won't give up until he's smiling and well." Ms. Anderson peered down through glasses at her daughter's friend slightly surprised.
She nodded at Serena gratefully.
"Right this way."