24: Mamochan
I was actually in the room when the spirit appeared to Tsukinousagi - or, Tsukino Usagi, as I should probably call her from now on, since by now, I have heard her name as two entities rather than one. Well, more like in the doorway, but still I saw it all. The following is all of what was said, because I remember it very clearly.
Speaking of the whole name thing, it can be confusing - a first and last name, as opposed to having just one name. Maybe in terms of creating a variety of names, your way may be better, since I'll admit, I'm am only one Floritiuse out of ten million on Themis alone. But I digress.
Truly, I was very frightened at first upon seeing the specter in the room appear almost out of nowhere, save a light. I had every thought of running downstairs and screaming for Dyka and Varuna. So they didn't believe me about the cleaner! Well, there he was, right in front of me, and in front of Tsukino Usagi, speaking!
That was what I planned to do. That is, until I remembered the name in Tsukino Usagi's writings. It had also been Mamo-chan. It could only really mean one thing - that the Mamo-chan of the diary, and the Mamo-chan ghost, and even the cleaner, were one and the same.
But how? And how could I mistake him......
Realizing that, where I was, the ghost could easily see me, I quickly hid myself in the closet. As Tsukino Usagi's attention was completely fixated on the strange figure, who was there but yet was seemingly transparent, she did not see me slide in, keeping the door open just enough so I could see what was happening.
-M-mamo-chan! I heard the quaking in Tsukino Usagi's voice as she slowly stood up. -Is...is it really you?! You've come!
-Usa.
She went to go hug him. I could hear her gasp as she went through him, and I saw his head hang down as she did. I gave a gulp.
-Mamo-chan....!
-Usa.... He turned to face her. -I am not truly here. I wish I was, but I can't be.
-Oh....
-This is only me, my spirit, projected as far as it could go to find you. I could see her somewhat baffled face. -Do you remember, back when we visited Crystal Tokyo, when we met King Endymion?
-....Yes..... Tsukinousagi sadly nodded. -I remember. So you're just a vision....
-I am an astral projection. His face became worried. -I have tried to contact you for several days. I had woken up one morning, and I felt a terrible pain in my chest, almost as if you were being ripped away from the world. I feared the worst.
-I....
I saw her stop for a moment, and my own heart froze. Surely, with her lover, she would tell him everything that had happened - including what had happened with me!
-....I......She looked up at him, and I could be certain that he saw the mark on her neck. -I'm all right.
I gave a sigh as she sat down on the bed. Though he was like a ghost, somehow, he managed to sit next to her.
-I....I just lost a friend. She looked down. -Mamo-chan, I'm afraid. These people want to kill me. I've....I've lost my truest friend in this place!
-A friend.....
-He was so kind to me........ She covered her face. -No other person was so kind here. I'm so scared.....
I watched as Tsukino Usagi began to bow down and cry. I realized that it was, perhaps, wrong for me to intrude on such a intimate moment. Now that I was where I was, though, I simply couldn't turn or leave, lest I miss something. For secretly, I hoped Tsukino Usagi would, perhaps, mention something of the Galaxy Cauldron. Something, anything, that I could tell Dyka, that could vindicate her.
-Usa.
-...I'm gone. Tsukino Usagi moaned. -They've put me on trial for....for.....for going to Galaxy Cauldron! I'm lost here. And......and....
-Usa?
-....Not just me. I noticed her turn and put a hand on herself. -Mamo-chan......I....
From where I was, I couldn't see Mamo-chan's response. I'm sure, however, that he was completely and utterly surprised, or horrified. Surprised that his wife was having a child, maybe horrified that it was happening when his wife was about to inevitably be cast into oblivion. Not sure which path he chose, though surely, it must have been a treat to see his face. But I digress.
-...Oh no.
-Mamo-chan. She looked up at him, and I could see her tears. -Promise me. Mamo-chan. Now that I have you for these few moments, please, if you can, tell the others...tell them I'm sorry. About everything. I'm nothing now.
-Usa.... Mamo-chan's voice lowered. -No. You have nothing to be sorry about.
-Mamo-chan....?
-These people, they have been trying to break you. They got closer. -I can see it in your eyes, how they've clouded with shame. They have done things to you, and because of it, you are giving in to them. But you must never give in to such thoughts. They're poison.
Then, to my surprise, his hand solidified, and touched Tsukino Usagi's face. It was at this point that he glowed really bright, and from him came forth the bright light. I had to shield my eyes from it, almost giving myself away.
For the light was like that of Tsukino Usagi's, only a different color. So I realized. That Mamo-chan was a sailor soldier too!
-You matter. Mamo-chan, now a solid figure of light, came in even closer to Tsukino Usagi. -You have always mattered to me.
What happened next, I really can't describe my feelings for it very well, for it was too awesome to truly describe properly. Mamo-chan bent down, drew her into his arms, and kissed Tsukino Usagi on her brow. As he did this, Tsukino Usagi closed her eyes, and she too began to glow. She, in return, took his head, bringing it down to her level, and kissed him as well. They both, by this time, were glowing - just as Tsukino Usagi had done before with me that horrible night.
But this time, it felt very different. It was like the feeling I had when I was in the sailor school, when I was very young. Me and several of my friends would, when the teachers weren't looking, sneak out at night, and run out into the fields outside of the school. Then, we would lay on the grass, and count the stars, and name them anything that our minds came up with. Then, we would watch the stars rise up for the day, with the sky lighting up into millions of different colors as it happened.
Such was that moment, just like day breaking, with warm colors dancing around the room. It was so beautiful. I never realized how wonderful something like that could be, for I was never in such a relationship. I was always taught to repress those feelings, which was not difficult as my lack of a thirteenth tentacle muted such desires anyways. But now, watching this happening, I was sad. I wondered, if what they had was like that, like the beginnings of dawn, what about me, and others who had simply rejected and forgotten that feeling of being truly happy even for one moment?
Certainly, though, I could see Tsukino Usagi smile. It was a peaceful smile, for, in her eyes, she must have been rejuvenated somehow. Indeed, I almost gasped aloud when I saw that the large wound on her neck had, in that one exchange, been reduced to little more than a thin red line.
-........Mamo-chan..... she finally murmured. -....Thank you.......
They separated, and the lights disappeared. Mamo-chan's form became like that of a ghost again, and he stood up.
-I....... I noticed I couldn't see him as clearly now. -Usa, I have to.....tell you something else.....the senshi...
-Mamo-chan!?
-The...............senshi...................are............
Mamo-chan's eyes widened, and for good reason. The kiss had drained his power. He was disappearing!
-MAMO-CHAN!!
Tsukino Usagi jumped up and ran towards him, crying. But, by then, it was too late. I saw him glow faintly, frantically mouth out one more Usa, and by the time Tsukino Usagi reached him, he was completely gone.
-NO!!!!!!!!!!!!
She collapsed on the floor, beating her hands on the ground. All she did was cry and cry, and a pool of water appeared under her from her tears.
-COME BACK......COME BACK!!!!!! She screamed. -MAMO-CHAAAAAN!!!!!
I felt a sob rise in my throat, and I had to wipe my own eyes. Now, again, I saw her crumble, going back to what she had been, but only more miserable than ever now that her lover was gone.
-He.....was my friend, she finally choked. -And......I couldn't save him........Bruto-san....Mamo-chan.......come back....COME BACK!!!
I had already figured that she did not notice me where I was, in the closet. I knew, too, that it was better for her not to see me should she stop crying. So, I got out of the closet, and quietly slipped out of the room.
-
I left the house, soon after that. Not forever, but simply to take a walk for a little bit, to clear my mind - and to ponder.
I had heard Dyka talking to Varuna before I had left. She was planning on submitting a motion to drop the defense altogether. And why not? There was nothing left of the case. There was nothing
But, as your kind would say, if walls could talk....
But they would have never believed me about seeing Mamo-chan. Why would they? It was a leap of faith which had them believing about Brutus. Now Brutus was gone. Fate, it had seemed, deemed Tsukino Usagi should suffer the consequences of her actions. She would be sent to Apollyon. She would be forever banished.
But there was something else. There had to be. Before, perhaps I wouldn't have cared, but now, between Brutus, me killing Tsukino Usagi, the writings, and the ghost, it just seemed too strange that my former client's guilt could be so clear cut. The crux, of course, was proving that it wasn't. We had nothing to counter prove Yomokei's shocking security hologram.
There was really only one thing I knew was connected to this whole case that no one had bothered to mention. I knew of She. She was a key to unlocking the truth. The problem, of course, was convincing Tsukino Usagi that she could really trust us to tell us about it all.
But She had also appeared in Zra's crazed writings. Was she involved in that too? And if so, how? Could She be....
I gave a sigh. All the thoughts of the day were making me hungry. I figured, as I was quite a ways down from the house, and actually into a business district, that I would get myself something to eat. So, I took a turn onto a slightly darkened side street that I knew had a nice little restaurant at the end of it.
I instantly regretted it.
-...Themis......
-Yes?
The moment I turned my head to see who was calling my name, I was grabbed from behind. I gave a gasp, for the sudden grip upon me was unusually strong, unlike what I had known before. With a cry, I smacked them away as hard as I could.
-Uuuugh!
I didn't have time to face my attacker. Instantly, I was rushed by others. Though I couldn't see well in the alley, I knew that I was somehow surrounded by people who seemed to have come out of nowhere.
-Get her!!
-...AAAH!!! HEELP!!!!
I didn't want to use my sailor powers and damage property, though, in hindsight, it may have been a better idea. Instead, I began to ran out of the alley, but whomever was attacking my was too quick. I was immediately grabbed again from behind, and then, someone hit me in the midsection. Then, the face. Then, my midsection again.
-OW!
-UGH!!!
-Shut up!!!
I threw my hands up, hoping to get a good grip on whomever was grabbing me, but I was unable to. I was instead dragged back into the alley, where I fought as hard as I could to damage my attackers.
-In here!
I suddenly felt weak, for a cloth was placed over my mouth. I gave a gasp, but I inhaled no air. The cloth was covered with some kind of potion, which made me instantly drowsy, and I felt myself weaken every time I struggled.
-............help....
-....We've got her.....
I tried to see who was holding me, but all I saw were black silhouettes like shadows. Surely, it must have been an effect of whatever they gave me, for soon, everything was black, and I knew no more.
