Fifth Prayer: Loss

[faithfulflame]

[She'd just checked Usagi's room, and it was empty. Nothing remained of Sailor Moon save for a half-empty bucket of pudding just sitting in the fridge. With a cry of frustration, the normally reserved miko took it out and hurled it at the trash bin, chocolate oozing down the wall. This was just too much. First Ami, then that awful Apep creature taking Sabriel, and now Usagi!

Her friends would need to be told, of course. So, a few minutes later a Voice transmission pops out over the journals. Rei's voice is tight and controlled, but there's definitely an undercurrent of sadness]

I'm sorry to inform everyone that Tsukino Usagi-san has been sent home by the Malnosso.

Please think of her fondly, and wish her luck.

Should anyone wish to make a formal prayer for her, I will be available to help with that, so please contact me via the journal.

[Closing the feed, Rei picks up her journal and heads out to the little tent shrine she, Ami, and Usagi had put together months before, lighting a flame on the brazier with Eferin and preparing several prayer strips of her own for her friend and Sailor Moon. She burns them, and sends her wishes to the other girl, whereever she might be]

Be well, Usagi-chan.

(OOC: Feel free to respond via voice, or find Rei at her little hideaway)

Comments

[voice]

[faithfulflame]

She's in a better place.

[A blatant lie, and her voice can only hide so much of the bitterness and half truth. The Dark Kingdom. What was going to happen to Mercury. And the insane Princess living in her soul. This was preferable, to a point]

Re: [voice]

[redjacketthief]

[There was a darkness hidden in her tone, but it wasn't his place to ask. He didn't know her, she didn't know him. This was just a quiet conversation.]

That's true, but it doesn't make her absence hurt any less.

[voice]

[faithfulflame]

No, it doesn't. But I'm fine.

[Recognizing that he's trying, despite being scum, she adds]

I've got to keep things together for Ami-chan.

[voice]

[redjacketthief]

[A beat.]

You know Ami-chan too?

[voice]

[faithfulflame]

I do. She's one of Usagi-chan and my friends from home.

[A return bead]

How do you know her?

[voice]

[redjacketthief]

She's a good friend of my housemate, and she helped me out a little recently.

[voice]

[faithfulflame]

Oh? And who is your housemate?

[Ami helps everyone...]

[voice]

[redjacketthief]

Luke Skywalker.

[voice]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei blushes slightly. Ami's boyfriend. She'd seen him, but never talked]

I see.

[voice| filtered]

[redjacketthief]

[He caught that change in tone and tossed up a filter, out of courtesy to Luke.]

You don't need to worry about Ami--she's in good hands with him. But, that means that you can take some time to help yourself in this.

[voice| filtered]

[faithfulflame]

I know she is. I told her to pursue him.

[Doesn't want to talk about her problems with you Monkey]

[voice| filtered]

[redjacketthief]

[He didn't expect her to.]

Oh? That's a quite a nice thing to do for a friend. Usagi and Ami should consider themselves lucky.

[voice| filtered]

[faithfulflame]

It was the right thing. Ami-chan doesn't always speak her mind.

[voice| filtered]

[redjacketthief]

That...sounds about right. She's a very smart but very quiet person.

[voice| filtered]

[faithfulflame]

Yes.

[She pauses, catching herself now.]

Monkey-san, I heard about you. Fighting. You should worry less about me, and more about yourself.

[voice| filtered]

[redjacketthief]

[He sighed heavily.]

...you too? I've heard the lecture from everyone now, from Adele to Itachi. I'm fine.

[voice| filtered]

[faithfulflame]

Adele-san.

[She pauses, whispering that name, like its an object of fear]

Monkey-san. When the evil spirits walk the earth, nobody is fine.

[voice| filtered]

[redjacketthief]

[He caught that too--but, again, not his place.]

That includes you, if you didn't realize that.

[voice| filtered]

[faithfulflame]

I'm a miko.

[Like that explains it all]

[voice| filtered]

[redjacketthief]

Even so, you're still a teenaged girl

[voice| filtered]

[faithfulflame]

Who's trained to fight evil spirits.

[Her tone...irritable]

I'm not a child.

[voice| filtered]

[redjacketthief]

I wasn't saying that you are.

[His, in contrast, is cool and level.]

I'm just saying that everyone has limits; be careful not to hit yours.

[Because he has--and he's regretting it.]

: [voice| filtered]

[faithfulflame]

Monkey-san. I know my limits. I'm nowhere near them.

[His tone is insufferable]

I had my own share of fighting this week. I came out fine.

[voice| filtered]

[redjacketthief]

[Against the complications caused by Apep? That warrants investigation--

Later.]

Be careful regardless. These are stressful times, and mistakes can easily be made with the best intentions in mind.

[voice| filtered]

[faithfulflame]

I'm aware.