Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and all its components are the property of Naoko Takeuchi. Apollo is my own creation, and if you wish to use her, please ask me first.

DAYBREAK

Episode 9

Usagi finally opened the door to the room. Michiru stood up and kicked Haruka's foot. The sleeping girl awoke and stood up. Ami came around the corner just as the three other girls walked back into the room. Ami followed and realized that Kurai was sleeping. She told the others to be quiet and made them leave the room.

"Sorry. I didn't know she went to sleep," Usagi apologized.

"It's alright. I don't blame her. She's had a tough day," added Ami. Haruka nodded her head and yawned.

"Would it be alright if I went home, Haruka? Hotaru's babysitter will leave soon and I don't want her to be all alone," Michiru asked.

"Sure. I'll be home just as soon as I know Kurai's okay." Michiru was about to kiss Haruka goodbye but she remembered Usagi and Ami and decided against it. Instead she waved bye and walked down the hall and out the door. Haruka watched her leave and then turned to Ami and Usagi.

"Are you two staying or going?" Haruka inquired.

"Well, I'm not going to stay in this very room, but I'll be around the hospital if you need me." With that, Ami also left down the hall, although she turned around the corner.

"What about you, little kitten?"

"Huh?!" Usagi had been in a daze ever since Michiru had left.

"Are you going to stay with me or are you going to leave?" Haruka gazed into Usagi's eyes and Usagi got a chill down her spine.

"I better stay. I mean, after all, she is my sister." The two girls sat down on a long seat. They sat in silence for what seemed an eternity. Finally, Haruka turned to Usagi.

"Want to get a drink?" Usagi was so startled by Haruka's question that she fell off the seat! Haruka started to laugh but she put out her hand just the same. Usagi grabbed Haruka's hand and was easily pulled up by the much stronger girl. Usagi was reminded of Haruka's question and replied that she'd love to. They walked down to the little eatery next to the hospital cafeteria and went to the line.

"Oh, no! I don't have any money!" Usagi couldn't believe that she had forgotten to bring her wallet.

"That's alright. What do you want?" Usagi looked over at Haruka to see if she was being sarcastic. But no, Haruka was being serious.

"Uh…I'll have a root beer."

"That's it? Come on, Usagi, you can do better than that!" Haruka smiled and looked down at a surprised Usagi.

"Okay, then I'll have a root beer float."

"Sounds good. I think I'll have one, too." Haruka walked up to the cashier. "Two root beer floats, please." Usagi looked at Haruka suspiciously, wary of her kindness. Haruka had been nice to Usagi before, but not to this extent. The two got their drinks and sat down at a little table. Usagi started drinking her float immediately while Haruka took her time. Usagi finished quickly and glanced at Haruka who was slowly sipping her drink and gazing out the window.

"So, Haruka, how did you and Kurai meet?" Usagi felt that Kurai had lied to her and wanted to see if Haruka would say the same thing Kurai did.

"Well, you see…" Haruka didn't want to tell Usagi about the dreams. She hesitated and finally answered, "We met through a mutual friend." The words had come almost unconsciously, as if someone else had spoken them.

'Really? Who?" Usagi had noticed Haruka's hesitance and decided to ask her that one more question. Haruka thought for a second until the unconscious words came out of her mouth again.

"Setsuna." The words seemed to fly out of Haruka's mouth.

"Oh. Okay." Usagi looked out at the traffic on the street, waiting for Haruka to finish. She finally finished and got up. Usagi had become so entranced by one family walking down the street that she didn't notice. Haruka snuck up behind her and poked her in the side. Usagi jumped up and almost fell off the chair…again. "Aaaaah!"

"Sorry. It was just too tempting." Haruka smiled and grabbed Usagi's hand. "Come on. Let's go see how Kurai's doing." Haruka pulled Usagi out of the eatery and down the hall. They rounded the corner and saw Kurai talking to a nurse. "Huh?!"

"Oh, hi guys. I'm just talking to my new friend, Joy, here," Kurai calmly answered.

"But shouldn't you be in bed?!" Haruka thought Kurai was going crazy."Oh, no. When I was gone, Ms. Mizuno came and said that I looked a lot better. So, I was allowed to leave the bed."

"But, how?!" Haruka suddenly remembered how Kurai had healed Michiru's hand that morning. Her expression turned from surprise to thought. Kurai noticed and decided not to say anything.

"She's had an amazing recovery." Haruka and Usagi jumped at the sound of Ms. Mizuno's voice. "I've never seen anyone get better so quickly, especially from such severe injuries."

"Well, she's very strong," Haruka said, trying to convince Ms. Mizuno that Kurai had done nothing to speed up her recovery. Kurai smiled and lightly touched Haruka's hand. Haruka looked down to see Kurai nod her head, indicating that she had brainwashed Ms. Mizuno. "Oh…" Usagi looked at everybody's faces in a confused way. Kurai walked up to her and whispered in her ear what she had done. Usagi looked at her with an astonished look and Kurai lifted her eyebrows, as if Usagi hadn't known she could do that. A smile slowly formed on Usagi's face as she comprehended the situation. Suddenly, Ami came from around the corner and saw the four people standing in the hallway. She saw her mother, Haruka, Usagi, and…Kurai! Ami was about to start yelling that Kurai should be in bed, but Haruka cupped her hand over Ami's mouth. Ami looked up in surprise and quickly understood. She closed her mouth and Haruka took away her hand.

"Well, I should be going. Ami, can you take care of Kurai while I'm gone?" Ms. Mizuno asked her daughter.

"Um, okay," Ami mumbled.

"See you all later, then." Ms. Mizuno left down the hall and turned towards the waiting room.

"How did you do it?" Ami asked when she saw that her mother was out of earshot.

"Do what?" Kurai questioned.

"You know what," Ami said.

"No, I don't." Suddenly, a nurse came from around the corner and walked past the group. Ami's face took on a look of shock.

"How did you know…?"

"Let's go inside my room. Then we can talk," Kurai offered. Haruka opened the door and held it for everyone. "Always the gentleman, huh, Haruka?" Kurai teased.

"You know I am," Haruka answered, with a slight smile on her face. Haruka, Usagi, and Ami all sat down in chairs while Kurai went to lie down in the bed.

"Now, what was your question again, Ami?" Kurai inquired.

"How did you heal so quickly? Your wounds were so severe and practically innumerable!" Ami was becoming more and more confused by the word.

"Well, Usagi's crystal can heal people, can't it?' Ami and Usagi nodded their heads. "If her's can, why can't mine?" As the words sunk in, Ami finally understood.

"Oh…so can you heal people like Hotaru?" Ami wanted to know if Kurai could also be as much help as Hotaru was.

"In a sense…Hey! Look! It's getting dark outside!"

"Why is that a good thing?" Usagi hated the dark because she knew she had to walk home in it.

"Because then the stars come out…"