Author's Note: The title of this chapter is named after a certain screensaver on Windows PCs. I just love the screensaver's name. : ) Also, yes, Mamo has an actual attack in the manga- no roses for him. Also, apologies for not updating in a while.
Chapter 10- Mystify Your Mind
Ami walked out of her apartment on Saturday, wearing a casual ensemble of a loose skirt and blue-stripped blouse. She was off-duty, and wanted to clear her head of work and Usagi. She stepped down the street carrying her sports bag. A trip to Juban's gym would take her mind off things.
As she walked, small riots broke out. Her fellow officers enforced peace to the best of their ability. Ami watched Officer Kin lead people to safety from a wild-looking man, and she smiled, happy that her team was doing their best.
Ami pushed the gym door open and instantly smelled iron and sweat. She changed in the little women's changing room into a sweatband, cutoff top, and fitting shorts. It's funny, she thought with a smile, that studious me back in junior high would be working out at age twenty-two. She had to exercise for her job, especially if she had to chase someone, so she had a toned body.
She went to the treadmills and started to run.
“...Ami-chan?”
Ami turned. A tall woman with a brown ponytail was staring at her from the opposite treadmill. Ami stopped running.
“W-Who are you?”
“Ami-chan, it's Makoto. Mako-chan.”
Immediately Ami glared. “You don't have anything to do with 'Usagi,' do you?”
“Am-”
“Listen!” Ami yelled, causing the people in the gym to stare. “I don't know who you people are and what you want with me! I want you to-”
But whatever Ami wanted Makoto to do was lost, because Ami collapsed.
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“Wow, Yumi,” Ryo said admiringly, “I can't believe how you managed to get a job so quickly.”
They were in Yumi's apartment. She stood before him in a pure white dress, coat, and shoes- a nurse's outfit.
“It was nothing,” she replied. “For some reason they hired me on the spot!”
“It's awesome, babe,” Ryo said proudly, hugging her. Yumi giggled.
She placed her hands on Ryo's face, framing it. “Come with me, Ryo-chan? I'm sure it'll be all right.”
Ryo smiled. “Sure.”
They gathered their things and left for the hospital. As they traveled, Yumi said, “Don't worry, Ryo-chan. You'll find a job too.”
“I'll keep looking,” Ryo replied, determined.
Yumi smiled, and then gazed at him.
“What is it?”
“Oh nothing... It's just... I'm glad I met you.”
Ryo pulled to the side of the road and turned to her. He kissed her softly, and said, “Me too.”
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Galaxia shivered a little after Ryo kissed her. His kisses were so... She couldn't describe them. She wanted to pull him closer and kiss him harder, but she decided against it. She wanted to be gentle from then on.
She wanted to make sure that Ryo never questioned her, but he trusted her, so it wasn't necessary. Galaxia pondered. She took Ryo's memories from him each time he began to show signs of awakening, though hesitantly, such as the time where her disguise was almost revealed when they woke up in bed together earlier. Why? Galaxia closed her eyes, and ignored the turmoil growing within her troubled heart. As long as she remained with Ryo, regardless of any growing trouble, everything would be all right. She was sure of it.
“Here we are!” Ryo said, pulling into the large hospital. Galaxia walked in with Ryo by her side. They entered the main waiting room.
“Hello, Dr. Keitaro,” Galaxia said sweetly.
“Hello, Leiko-san. How are you?” the doctor replied. His gray eyes were a little blank. Of course, Galaxia had taken some of his memory.
The small talk could not continue as another nurse rushed into the room. “Doctor! We have an emergency!”
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Ami-chan!
What's wrong, Nichogi-san?
My friend! She-
Don't panic, Nichogi-san! I'll call the ambulance!
Lights shone brightly through her closed eyes. She heard a loud siren- perhaps it was a police siren?
Ami-chan...
Please don't cry, Nichogi-san, she'll be okay.
I have to call Usagi!
Usagi... Why did that name keep coming up? Her blood boiled.
The screeching of tires stopped, and then there was a rolling sound. Was she moving?
More bright lights assaulted her eyelids. The rolling stopped, and the creak of a door could be heard.
Several voices, including Makoto's, started talking. She couldn't make out what was being said.
A few seconds later, she heard the door close, and voices again.
She's in a coma. You know what to do.
The sound of air filled her ears and nostrils. Was there something covering her face?
Then, time must've passed, for she felt something soft underneath her. A bed...?
She felt several things attached to her arms. What were they?
She heard sniffling and felt something warm on her left hand.
Ami-chan...
That voice... It sounded familiar.
She opened her eyes.
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“What's the emergency?” Yumi cried.
Quickly, the doctor led her to the ER, leaving Ryo to stand in the room alone. I wonder what happened? he thought worriedly. He didn't see Yumi for a few hours, so he waited in the reception room, reading magazines.
Finally, Yumi returned. Ryo stood up quickly. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes, it's fine,” Yumi said. “A young woman named Ami Mizuno was in a coma.”
“...Mizuno?”
Yumi nodded.
Ryo's mind reeled. “Ahn...”
Yumi smiled. “What's the matter, Ryo-chan?”
Ryo clutched the edge of a chair, shaking.
Yumi raised an eyebrow. “I can get you to a doctor. Well, we are in a hospital,” she laughed.
Ryo didn't hear her. His eyes flashed.
“Where... is she?”
Yumi smiled again. “I can take you there. Follow me, okay?”
Ryo followed Yumi down the halls, and didn't notice that her hair was suddenly longer and blonde. She knocked on a door and let herself and Ryo in.
Ryo entered a room with four women surrounding a blue-haired woman, who was in bed. The sight of her caused Ryo to sway.
“Nurse Ohara-san, is Ami going to be okay?” asked a pregnant woman with short blonde hair.
“Of course,” Yumi replied. Ryo didn't stop to think what the reason was for the pregnant woman to call Yumi by a different name.
The four women noticed him. “U... Urawa-kun?” they said.
“Eh?” Yumi said. “Who are you, and why are you here?” she asked quickly, jet-black eyes narrowing dangerously.
“What...?” Ryo asked, thunderstruck.
“I'll be right back, 'Urawa-kun,' and I expect you to be gone.” Yumi turned, and exited.
Ryo was about to call Yumi, but he began to shake uncontrollably.
“Are you all right, Urawa-kun?” the raven-haired woman asked.
The golden-haired woman with her hair styled in buns gazed at him with her brow furrowed and mouth slightly open, her cerulean eyes piercing into his.
Ryo stopped shaking and stepped toward them. They all stared at him as he looked down at the woman in bed. The woman in bed gazed back at him through blue-black eyes, confused.
Ryo's eyes flashed again, and without warning he grabbed the woman around her waist. He crashed through the hospital room window and pelted away into the night, the blue-haired woman's eyes wide with shock.
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Galaxia watched the scene through the slightly open door and smirked. Perfect. She pushed the door open and let out a false shriek of fear.
“What... What happened!”
Quickly, the Senshi explained what had happened. Galaxia gave fake gasps through the tale. When they finished, Galaxia shut the door quietly.
“We have to do something!” Sailor Venus cried.
“But what?” Sailor Jupiter replied desperately.
Sailor Moon closed her eyes in sorrow, but then they snapped open without warning. She whipped around to face Galaxia.
“It was you... Leiko-san!” she said fiercely.
Galaxia blinked. “...Excuse me? I don't know wh-”
“The Silver Crystal told me, you evil woman! Transform everyone!” Sailor Moon called out her transformation phrase and the rest, except Venus, followed suit.
“Burning Mandala!” Sailor Mars cried, releasing a jet of white-hot flames at Galaxia. Galaxia dodged, and glared.
“What are you doing?”
The Senshi ignored her, and Sailor Jupiter used Oak Evolution to blind her. Galaxia shielded herself from the sharp leaves with difficulty, and fell backwards toward the broken window. Jupiter dashed toward her, grabbed her, and just like Ryo and Mercury, landed out of the hospital room window.
“Get- off- me!” Galaxia snarled. Jupiter refused to let go, and tightened her grip on Galaxia's arms.
Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars leaped out of the window and joined Jupiter in the empty hospital parking lot.
Galaxia bowed her head, her fake blonde hair covering her eyes. Suddenly, her head snapped up.
“Foolish girls.”
Galaxia closed her eyes as gold light blasted through the nighttime sky. The light knocked the Senshi backwards, and they looked on in horror as Galaxia revealed herself.
Sailor Moon glared. “Galaxia... I thought so.”
The spirit of Galaxia smirked, said nothing, and pointed at them to perform her memory-extracting power.
“Flame Sniper!”
Galaxia scowled and easily knocked the fire arrow away.
“Sparkling Wide Pressure!”
Again, Galaxia knocked the attack away.
“How can you be this strong?” Sailor Moon shouted. “I defeated you!”
“Ah. Be careful where you are in the Galaxy Cauldron, brat.”
“What's that supposed to mean?” cried Sailor Moon.
Galaxia sneered and pointed at them again. This time she would not miss.
“Tuxedo the Smoking Bomber!”
Galaxia was blasted off her feet and landed in a heap. A dashing man in a tuxedo had come out of nowhere, stepping in front of the Senshi.
“Mamo-chan!” Sailor Moon cried.
Tuxedo Kamen stood protectively in front of Sailor Moon. “Stay where you are,” he said threateningly.
“Feh. Get out of here, you pathetic excuse for a man. It was oh-so-easy to use you at the Cauldron....”
“Keep talking and I'll break your face,” Jupiter growled.
“Enough! I did not come here for nothing!” Galaxia shrieked. She stood, a little shakily, and pointed at them once again.
She was not quick enough. “Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss!” Sailor Moon shouted fiercely.
Galaxia flew through the air and landed hard on her back. Even though she was a spirit, Sailor Moon's attack hurt as if Galaxia were flesh and blood. She cursed, and felt her power decreasing significantly.
“Fire Soul!”
“Supreme Thunder!”
“Tuxedo the Smoking Bomber!”
“Crystal Power... KISS!”
All four attacks combined and spiraled toward Galaxia, gathering speed. She was unable to block, and...
