Rabbits and Roses

Chapter 17
By: Prophetess of Hearts
Disclaimer: STANDARD! How many times do I have to tell you?
A.N: I’m trying, really I am... *Sniff, sniff* Oh yeah, and I’ll be separating the next chapters by morning, afternoon and night. Sorry, but this is gunna be an important day!
~~~~{~~@ Friday, August 13th @~~}~~~~
---/--@ Morning @--\---

^_^ Ami’s PoV ^_^

I awoke with a sinking feeling. I was awake at my usual time of 6am in order to read through the textbooks that I would read for next year. School had stopped a few days ago. When I am not exactly sure. You see we got out on vacation, not for a very long time mind you, just one of those vacations that would rest you before exams.

I love exam time for the sheer fact that it tests your knowledge. Of course they were not very testing for me since I could pass any of their tests since I was 10. By now I would probably be able to teach the courses that I was taking. I did in fact do that some times when the teacher was sick. That doesn’t go over well with most of the students of course. I get labeled a brainier and such, but at least I know I am secure in the fact that I shall go on to a great university to become a doctor.

Okay, so today wasn’t an ordinary day, I was too busy thinking of what would go on tonight then the names and symbols of the table of elements were. Okay so I used to recite those for fun when I was 10, but still if I couldn’t concentrate on something I’ve known for a while then surely that meant trouble.

And still, I just couldn’t shake that feeling of dread over tonight’s events.



^_^ Beryl’s PoV ^_^

I awoke in my dingy cell, it was probably some time around 8am, I had heard though the whispers of the people that feed me during the night that tonight there would be war. I was reveling in the fact. My dreams were filled with visions of the bullet passing through Usagi’s head, or through her heart.

My dreams got more and more detailed after the first. I could feel myself pull the trigger on her, and feel the jerk of the gun as it let the bullet fly from it’s barrel. I could see it make its course from the gun across the bloody field where Usagi was hunched over Mamoru. I could feel the impact and the spray of the blood as it came fact form the force of the bullet plunging its way into her vacant head. I knew in that dream that that was the way it should be.

Another dream I had was of me slowly skinning Usagi apart. I don’t know how but in that dream I kept Usagi alive as her blood dripped from her now bared muscles and every other thing that lays beneath the surface of the skin. I savored every single slice that I made. And then, as she was there, hanging from a pole by her ankles I slowly added drop by drop of vinegar onto her bloody body. Her screams echoing feather and feather into the distance, the sound nearly numbing my senses. And then, when I clear her body of the vinegar with boiling hot water her scream threatens to break the sound barrier...

And that was how my night was passed, but now, in the morning light I could only wish that it were as such.



^_^ Deena’s PoV ^_^

I was up by the ungodly hour of 10am. I have never been a morning person you understand. But ever since the night I watched Usagi and Mamoru on Usagi’s porch I understood that something was wrong in the world. I had watched from the shadows, even as the four others walked away. I watched their last tender kiss of the night, their cheeks stained red from the tears. And then, more then ever I knew that these two should be together.

But they had not seen me for the last few days. Their lives seem to have become complicated. Or more so then they had been before. Don’t get me wrong, I had seen them... on the street, day after day. And yet something seemed wrong. This didn’t feel right for some reason they were separated. I could feel their sorrow as if it was tugging at my very soul.

And yet, what could a shrink do. Sure I knew who they where, and what power they held, but there was nothing I could really do over it. What was I supposed to do? Call the cops? Call Usagi’s parents? It wouldn’t work like that, and I knew that with my very being. And so I was forced to wait, and listen for reports on the T.V regarding them. It was the best I could do.



^_^ Ikuko’s PoV ^_^ (I think that’s Usagi’s mom’s name…*laugh*)

I watched my daughter’s body as she lay there in bed; her cheeks still slightly pink from her crying last night. I had been outside the door listening, my heart broken as my oldest child, my only daughter cried herself to sleep over not being able to be with the guy she loves. I am not sure of the exact reasons that she could not be with him, but I just knew it had something to do with their friends.

I sighed to myself and walked out of her room, leaving the door slightly open and decided that sometime around noon, when she would be liable to wake up, that I would prepare her favorite breakfast. It was the best thing I would do to try and cheer her up. At times all a parent could do is hope that their child got over whatever was worrying them. That is your job as a parent… to sit and watch and try to provide as much comfort as you can.

I had woken up early today, that was why I had been watching Usagi. I was hoping that I could see a bit of the bright and cheery child she used to be just a few days ago. Instead of this depressed adolescent who now watched as her wold came tumbling down before her. There was little I could do, but hope that she would be cheery once more.



^_^ Kenji’s PoV ^_^

I had woken up to an empty spot beside me, and as I lay there in bed, not willing myself to move I knew already where my wife would be. She would be watching over our daughter like a guardian angle. And then, when she drank in her last sight of Usagi for the morning she would go to the kitchen, and cry slightly to herself before pulling out everything she would need to cook.

Many people had their ways to get over depression, or to try and push it out of their mind, cooking and watching over our kids was her way. I knew this from the first time she was saddened by Usagi’s cold when she was just a year or two old. She had kept up this habit for this long, and the most I could do was watch and wait as she did. I couldn’t interfere. For watching, and listening, and boiling slightly with anger was my way of trying to protect our children, and Ikuko from the worries that plagued their hearts, souls, or bodies.



^_^ Mamoru’s PoV ^_^

This morning I tried to slip into my regular habit of my morning run. It was 9am when I awoke. I worried not about running into Usagi because I knew that she would be waking sometime around noon. It broke my heart that I wouldn’t be seeing her, and yet I knew inside of me that it was for the best. We would probably end up running away together or something just as foolish, when in reality it would likely be that we would be the things keeping everyone from dying.

Yet as I ran from my apartment building and into the park, no matter how hard I ran the thoughts still ran through my mind at equal speed. No matter how much you try to outrun your emotions they have a tendency to remain inside you.

And next thing I knew I ended up in front of Usako’s door, knocking on the front door, and being greeted by Usagi’s mother. She looked me over as I stood there before her and said only six words: "Upstairs, last door on the left". And with that she stepped aside as I entered. I followed her directions and wound up in front of a door with a picture of her insignia on it. I entered without another thought and looked her over as she slept. Before I knew it I kissed her forehead and turned around towards the door, but not before seeing her smile in her sleep.

Usagi’s father was at Usagi’s door, and nodded and smiled slightly at me then moved aside, and soon I was out of her house and on my run again.




^_^ Motoki’s PoV ^_^

I got today off of working in the Arcade, and so I had taken the time to use this as a day to sleep most of it. And so I did what Usagi was probably doing. I was sleeping until noon at least. Is it my fault that I haven’t had a break since I don’t know...? February? So I deserved it.

My dreams were littered with thoughts of the war, the possibility that Mamoru, Usagi, all my friends and I would not be coming back. I wondered as I dreamt what my family would think after they found out that I was part of the Roses. Would they blame Mamoru? Would they try and deny it? Would I be disowned after my death?

I wondered and worried more for Usagi and Mamoru though, what would happen to them after the fact that they are at war against each other. Would they die in each other’s arms, would they run from the battle? Would they confess their love in front of everyone, or would one of them die at the hand of the other. I don’t know the answers to these yet, and in reality all I know is that I was afraid for them.



^_^ Rei’s PoV ^_^

Peace was not a possibility this morning when I awoke, just like it hadn’t been for the past days. I would do as I have since I first heard of the news that we would be at war. I would wake up at 5am, and I would then go in front of the sacred fire to pray and see if maybe today would be different and I could get the answer to what was going to happen.

Because it has not turned out while the past days, and the fire remains blank... I can’t help but wonder; as I know sit down in front of the fire that maybe the world would end. Or the fire will consume and that would be why I wouldn’t be able to get a reading at all. I jut hoped beyond hope that Usagi and Mamoru would be together. Usagi deserved as much.

I had had a crush on Mamoru before, this is true and yet I had a feeling that Usagi and him belonged together. Unlike Mamoru and I. True love is a precious and rare thing, and that was what Usagi and Mamoru had. I knew this long enough. And now, as I sit trying to read the fire, I get a flash of the future... My last thought as I do is simple.

Finally.



^_^ Shingo’s PoV ^_^

I awoke at about an hour before noon, to the beginnings of Usagi’s breakfast being made. I knew it was for her the moment I stepped into the kitchen. For the counter was littered with food items already. Some for Dad, and me... the rest for Usagi. Mom was worried, and so she cooked. This was known to all of us for a long time. This is usually when Usagi and me would at least tolerate each other.

I looked over at dad, he sat at the table, and so I walked over to him and said he normal ‘morning’ and then I decided to broach the subject that was on my mind. I leaned over to dads ear and whispered "What’s mom upset about now?".

Dad looked me in the eye then whispered right back "Usagi. She’s just worse today then she was before". I nodded and then got the food that was for me off the counter, and took it to the table to eat. The facts were pure and simple in this case, and I too was still worried for Usagi. Especially since I heard what was going to happen tonight.



^_^ Usagi’s PoV ^_^

I awoke at noon just as expected. The smell of food was what greeted me as I opened my eyes. I knew at that moment that mom was worried. That much was evident. I shook my head and walked downstairs still in my pink pajamas. Bunnies where all over my PJ’s, just like was expected of me.

I walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. My eyes nearly bulged at the amount of food there. It was like paradise! And it was all my favorite foods! I looked at my mom and smiled. "This all for me?" I asked her in a cheery tone as my eyes sparked and my mouth salivating just from looking at it all.

Mom nodded and so I grabbed as many plates as I could carry and started in on the food. I started with the chocolate chip pancakes, the chocolate chip waffles, the double chocolate cookies, a few fudge brownies... Okay so some of the stuff before me wasn’t meant for breakfast, and a majority of it had chocolate. I just loved moms cooking, and so as I ate, and ate, my stomach not seeming to become full, Shingo and Dad came in and started watching, only occasionally bringing me more food off of the counter. And so by the time I was done the whole of what mom made, I was finally full.

I got up and hugged mom tightly and whispered in her ear "I’ll b okay really. Please don’t worry so". And then high tailed it to my room in order to change into some different clothing, brush my hair out and grab my supplies so that I could go to the park and do something I hadn’t done in a long time. Paint and draw what I saw. Hen, for the time I would be at peace until tonight.