Things aren't always what they seem

By Bashfulglowfly

Epilogue

Dr. Mizuno lay on the floor of the doctors lounge sobbing. It was obvious that her heart was breaking. Her fellow doctors were either trying to comfort her or milling around whispering to each other. The Chief of Staff spoke quietly to the Chief of Pediatrics, "Get Towa from Psychiatry down here, he'll be the best to help her with this."

His junior nodded sadly as they walked past the lounge television as a newscaster spoke: A student from Juuban Middle school committed suicide today at the Shibuya Train Station. Witnesses said that the student, identified only as Ami, yelled, "Forgive me Usagi!" just before she jumped in front of the train…"

The doctor looked at the elderly gentleman who stared unseeing through the observation window. He looked at the girl within who was fighting the restraints placed upon her. Her once long hair had been cropped short for the safety of the nurses; none had wanted to get near her to brush her hair after she had slammed Nurse Hasegawa's head into the bed railing. The doctor turned back to the old man. "It may take awhile but, hopefully, with the right combination of medications, she will become reasonably normal." He hesitated "But she will probably never be allowed to leave here. The boy she attacked, how is he? She though he was some sort of monster?"

A tear ran down the old man's face. "Yuuichirou was my assistant. A very nice boy. His family will not tell me much but it is hoped that with time and rehabilitation he will regain some of his mobility."

"That's a good thing isn't it?"

"He was a musician. She badly damaged his left arm. He will never be able to use it well enough to play the guitar again." The old man bowed to the doctor. "If it is permitted, I will return next week."

The doctor watched as the old man shuffled out the doors. Poor man. To be all alone like this.

Makoto bowed her head. There were worse jobs to have. While she probably could think of several, she was too busy. "Kino! Hurry dammit! We don't have all day! This cafeteria doesn't clean itself!" Makoto didn't even bother to reply; she just nodded as she grabbed the plates and began stacking them in the huge industrial dishwasher.

A tear rolled down her cheek as she though of poor Ami who had jumped in front of a train. Rei, who attacked poor Yuuichirou and nearly beat him to death. She snorted, actually it probably would have been better for Yuuichirou to have been beaten to death then the bed-confined cripple he was now. I'll miss his music.

Minako was probably the craziest out of all of them. No matter what she did, Queen Serenity was never going to forgive any of them.

But she was probably the biggest coward of all. She did nothing. She hid herself. She was still going to school but she was never going to be a baker or a florist. That would be her penance to Usagi. But, perhaps, she would be able to see her every now and then in person rather than in the papers or on TV.

Makoto's supervisor stopped next to her. "You're doing well, Kino. Ishii-san may be your sempai, but I'm the one you have to impress. Keep up the good work and you might be able to go far here at Chiba International."

Minako hid behind the scant protection of the bushes. She shuddered from the pain. She could feel the blood dripping down the side of her neck. This youma was tough. She laughed to herself; all youma are tough when you are a mere human. But, she couldn't help herself; she had to keep trying. She had to prove to Queen Serenity that she was worthy of being one of Princess Serenity's Senshi.

She rationally knew that in this form she would never be strong enough or fast enough to defeat any youma. Hell, she didn't even have any magic to fall back on. But she was going to try and perhaps Queen Serenity would forgive her and allow her to be at Princess Serenity's side once more.

"Found youuuu!" crooned a voice.

Minako looked up into the face of the youma. She didn't even have time to curse as its claws slashed out.

The youma leaned forward to make sure that the strange human girl was actually dead and from the blood bubbling out of its lips, the youma heard "Se…ren…ity…."