Disclaimer: All characters and locations belong to their respective owners.

Until We Meet Again…

2.
DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY

August 25, 2013

The traffic was surprisingly light at this hour of the morning. Perhaps it was made so by the Powers Above, providing her fast and open leeway into downtown Azabu Juuban, but not too fast. If she hadn't noticed the black-and-whites tucked in the shade of the red maples as she drove by the Hikawa Jinja or the hulk of the Suzuki Jimmy hidden in the alley she left behind, she wouldn't have hesitated for a second to stomp on the accelerator and break the godsdamned speed limit.

Hino Rei couldn't wait any longer, but she had to abide by the rules of the road. It wouldn't do to worry the others if she got issued a ticket, or worse, resisted an officer's orders, struck said officer between the eyes so she could be on her way, then get slammed up against the hood of the car and have her wrists cuffed and hauled off to the slammer where she'd stay until one of the girls or Mamoru bailed her out. They didn't need another problem.

…Neither would Usagi.

She pressed her lips together, gripped the steering wheel tighter.

She pulled the Subaru Legacy into the parking lot shortly thereafter. She gathered her purse, hopped out, and locked the doors.

She walked the distance toward the entrance. The pavement was damp with dew, exuding the musk of cool crisp air and earthy rot. Water droplets bedded in the fold of leaves; made a daring dive from the tip and jackknifed into soil where they were absorbed by invasive roots. The sun fought through the gloomy overcast, spilling scant rays indiscriminately, brightened her world by tints and shades. It brought her little cheer.

She pulled the jacket collar up, rubbed and blew air on her hands. She reached the revolving doors, followed her grim reflection, and entered.

A wave of warmth engulfed her, burning with sweet, aching numbness. Praise the Gods; it was a welcome change compared to being out in unseasonably cool weather.

The lobby was wide and spacious, spherical in shape. There was a gift shop selling chocolates straight from Tokyo Tower ("AS SOLD IN FAMILYMART, WHERE YOU ARE ONE OF THE FAMILY") on her left, and to the right the ground level continued toward Out-Patient Registry. Backless couches arranged in a circle smack dab in the center, complimented by a tall potted plant. Elevators in the back, depositing patients on crutches, bound in wheelchairs.

A semicircular desk sat slightly off to the side of the couches, stationed by a pair of receptionists on computers. Rei walked up to the desk, steps measured and pronounced.

You can do this, Rei. You can do this….

"Excuse me," she said to the lady before her, "I'm here to see a patient, Tsukino Usagi. Do you know where I can find her?"

"Tsukino Usagi is located in the trauma center," said the receptionist. "Would you like me to show you the way?"

"If you're not too busy."

"Oh, I've had a lot of people come asking me about Miss Tsukino, I practically know the way by heart," the receptionist laughed lightly. Rei forced herself to smile; at least the woman was trying to lighten the mood. "It's right this way."

She followed her from the desk and past the gift shop, into one of the three elevators lining the wall.

"I heard about what happened to her," Rei heard the lady say as she pressed the button for the fourth floor. "Don't you think it strange for her to have been out so late at night?"

Rei shrugged. "Sorry, but I don't know the whole story. I got a voice message from one of my friends telling me about it, said she'd explain the rest when I got here." The girl's stomach plummeted as the elevator ascended on its tracks.

The lady's eyebrows receded into her hairline. "Really? I figured word would've gone around by now. It was on the news earlier this morning."

"Oh." Rei swallowed, but there was nothing to wet her dry mouth. "Well, um," she cleared her throat. "What I mean to say is…what do you find strange about Usagi being out late?"

"Something about it doesn't sit right with me. What's there to do at eleven fifty-five? Kids like her should already be in bed and getting their rest. You don't just go out in the midst of bad weather unless there's a serious emergency." A bell chimed within the elevator and the doors opened. They got out and proceeded down the corridor.

"I couldn't tell you," said Rei. "I've known Usagi for years. She's the type of person who has the eight to three routine drilled into her. There's no way she'd do a thing like that, not unless she had a very good reason."

"You and everyone else on this side of Minato-ku. What could have prompted her to sneak out in a thunderstorm? That's one eighty-thousand yen question I'd risk all the money in my checking account guessing."

"I just hope she's okay," Rei murmured to herself. She didn't care if the woman caught her words; she was probably thinking the same thing, too.

There wasn't much going on as they continued on their destination. Nurses and doctors of both sexes traversed the halls, some with clipboards in hand, others with stethoscopes curled round their necks. Middle-aged folk in long-sleeved sweaters and specks of gunmetal grey in their hair loitered in right-angle corners, walked the same path the two females were treading. They bore the same grim mask, looked out at the world through the same grim eyes; hands in their pockets and teeth biting bottom lips. Just like Rei.

Rei tried not to show it.

"This is it, Room 401." The receptionist stopped outside the open entrance to the room. "There's a waiting room around the corner and down the hall to your left."

Rei bowed. "Thank you. I'll be fine from here." The woman reciprocated the bow and took her leave.

She turned to the entryway. The lights in the room were dim, soft and translucent in their bulbs. There were two men and a woman in the room standing around a bed, bunched shoulder to shoulder and speaking in hushed tones. Rei recognized the man and the woman in plainclothes instantly: they were Kenji and Ikuko, Usagi's parents. The other man was a police officer, garbed in pressed navy blue uniform and peaked cap.

Lying in bed was a flaxen-haired girl no older than eighteen, her body draped up to the neck in a green blanket.

Usagi.

Her best friend of five years.

Gods Above….

"Excuse me." Rei poked her head inside, interrupting whatever conversation the trio was having. "Sorry to interrupt. May I come in?"

"Come on in, Rei," said Mrs. Tsukino sleepily; she must not have had caught a wink of rest since she got the call. "Have a seat, unless you just want to stay standing."

"I don't mind." The girl tiptoed into the room and slid into the hard, plastic chair next to the bed. She put her purse on the floor, clasped her hands to her lap. "How is she doing?"

"She seems to be in a stable condition," said Kenji, crossing his arms. "Aside from a few scrapes and scratches, she isn't seriously injured."

"Have the doctors come in to check on her?"

"Twice: once when the EMTs brought her to Critical Care and once before daybreak when they moved her to this location. A doctor should be stopping by any minute. Oh, where are my manners?" Kenji turned to the officer. "Rei, this is Officer Teguchi Tenkato; he's in charge of leading the investigation. Officer Teguchi this is Hino Rei, one of Usagi's close friends."

"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Officer," said Rei, inclining her head to the man.

"Likewise, Miss Hino," said Teguchi, tipping his cap up in greeting. He had a deep, brassy voice that suited his broad frame. "It does my heart good to know Miss Usagi has friends who are constantly on the lookout for her."

"Thanks…but I don't recall anyone being out late last night. It was raining pretty hard, considering monsoon season's starting to wind down."

"Apparently a friend of Miss Usagi's was close by when the attack occurred. We received the call via the emergency hotline."

"Was it any of Usagi's other friends? Her boyfriend, maybe?"

Teguchi shrugged. "We don't know; she wished to remain anonymous. What we do know is that the call was made at eleven fifty-five p.m. Reports reveal Miss Usagi was found outside Four Guardians Park on the sidewalk, and, I'll quote, 'lying with arms folded in prayer, as an Egyptian pharaoh who is met with eternal sleep'." He chuckled sheepishly. "At least, when I asked the EMT later, that was how he described how she looked."

"Did you find anything else?"

He shook his head. "Nothing so far. The ground may have been disturbed, but that could have been from any number of children or adults, heck even pets, wandering around the area before the storm."

"Or there could have been a scuffle." Rei gazed at her friend. "Usagi could have been trying to fight the person off, whoever it was." She heard Ikuko gasp, saw from her periphery the woman glance worryingly at her husband.

"It's very possible," said Teguchi, "or it could have been the other way around. Either way, my men and I will get to the bottom of this. We'll see to it that the perpetrator is brought to justice in the court of law." Rei didn't doubt him. "Now then, if you'll excuse me, Mister and Missus Tsukino, I'll be returning to my post at the station. We'll give you a ring if we uncover any possible leads."

"Thank you, Officer," said Kenji, shaking the man's hand and bowing. "Your help is greatly appreciated."

"Please take care, Officer," said Ikuko, mimicking her husband's actions.

"Will do. Miss Hino, it's been a pleasure meeting you." Teguchi tipped his cap to her again. "Pray hard and stay positive."

"I will," said Rei.

Teguchi nodded, and like a wraith in a dream lumbered quietly out of the room.

Rei let out a breath she wasn't aware she was holding. She lowered her eyes and studied Usagi's face. She looked peaceful, unperturbed by inner turmoil or the ruckus of the waking world. She reminded the girl of one of those little ceramic angel figurines she'd seen through the windows of gift shops and convenience stores, so innocent and bright-eyed and untouched by mankind's darker elements.

Except Usagi had a scratch on her, long and red and horizontal across the plain of her forehead. Where, Rei noted, the mark of the Moon hid beyond the flesh and blood of the sleeping princess.

Just what had happened to her?

No…better yet…who would do such a thing?

Why? As far as Rei was aware, Usagi hadn't done a single bad thing in her life. She never cursed anyone out, never got on people's bad sides (well, she tried not to), never had the capacity to hate and take it upon herself to exact revenge. She wasn't perfect by any means (she was still a glutton for sweets, still horrible at studying and academics), but Usagi was a good person. A very good person. So why…

Why…

"Rei?" It was Ikuko. "Are you okay, dear?"

Rei clenched her hands into fists, bit the inside of her cheeks. She stared at the floor between her feet, burned a hole through the tile. The words refused to come forth, threatened to bring with it a flood of tears that would dare to rival Noah's Ark. She couldn't speak, didn't want to blubber like a whale and make a fool of herself in front of everyone.

She breathed deep, looked up, and she didn't cry when she did speak. "…Y-Yeah. Um, Mister and Missus Tsukino, could you please do me a favor? Let everyone know I stopped by. Also, tell Minako to come over to the Hikawa Jinja whenever she has time; she was one who sent me the text about Usagi." She stood, grabbed her purse.

Ikuko stepped forward, her hand extended. "Oh, Rei…."

"I'm sorry, I can't stay. I have to go." She shouldered the bag, bowed low at the waist. "Please forgive me." She turned on her heel and booked it before Ikuko had a chance to stop her, hold her, comfort her—

Hino Rei hated hospitals with a passion.