PLEASE READ THIS; THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE STORY!!! This story is a series! If you are starting to read this from this point on, you will be confused. Please read the first part of the stories first!!! Don't Let Me Go: Broken Promises Don't Let Me Go: Insanity Don't Let Me Go: Roses and this is Don't Let Me Go: Apparitions All right minna, as promised the chapters are getting longer ^^ In case it confuses you (crap, it did me - I had to look it up in a theasaurus) Apparitions means ghost. ^^ *sings the Fairy song from Sailor Moon Super S* anyhoo - HUGE thank yous and *hugs* to everyone who has emailed us!! lots of love minna, we really appriecate you!! And a million and five thanks to my editor Meara - luva! ****HUGS**** And of course, a shout out to my friends and twin, RPG court - Serenity Raye, Adam, Serena, Amber, Megs, Lady Rainbow, Jupiter, Calisto... man that list goes on ^^ I don't own Sailor Moon - but I have lots of Sailor Moon stuff! ^_^ Email us!!!!!! Please!!!!! and visit mine and Serenity Raye's website http://anime.at/bethsere <3 Bethany & Patch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When I was in the seventh grade we read a story called "Dracula" by a guy named Bramm Stoker. It was supposed to be scary, but by that time I?d fought any number of monsters that could have had the "Count" for dinner, so I was less than impressed with the whole tale. The one thing I do remember is what they called him - "Nosferatu." It means "the living dead" in some obscure language. "The living dead." Kind of sums up my whole sorry life now doesn?t it? Sometimes I think that if my friends really loved me, they?d let me go and be with him again. Each day is a fight to go on living. And I am so tired of fighting... -Usagi. ~~~~~~~~~~~ Don't Let Me Go: Apparitions By: Bethany and Patch Chapter: 1 Edited by: Meara - the greatest editor alive... ^^ Send your comments, suggestions, Tiggers and cheese cubes to us at Bethany212@aol.com and Patchkhan1@hotmail.com And send the cows to Serenity Raye ^^ ~~~~~~~~~~~ Something or someone slapped him. Hard. "C?mon, wake up," a voice growled, "I know you?re awake, no use pretending." Slowly, his eyelids opened and he gave the man in front of him a piercing stare. His gaze steady, he studied the short man who met his gaze, albeit, a bit less bravely. Richie, that was his name, or so he had heard from voices when he came to from unconsciousness. A smirk formed on his upturned lips as his gaze traveled back to Richie?s face. The man shifted a little then snarled at him. "What are you looking at?" "Not much, that?s obvious." His head flew back from the blow he received and the chair he was tied to nearly toppled over. He straightened back up, as his bangs fell over his eyes, and he had to shake his head a little to clear his vision. "What do you want from me?" he bit out. The other sneered. "You'll see, boy. Everything will come together in good time. All you have to do is cooperate and no one will get hurt and that includes your cute little girlfriend." "You won?t touch her! I?ll kill you with my bare hands if you do anything, I swear it!" Richie laughed and crossed his arms. "So passionate and such a fool. The Organization of Chronos will pay you handsomely if you just do what we say." He turned and walked out of the small room. "Matte! What are you talking about?" But his questions were not answered as the door slammed shut and once again he was left alone... in darkness. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Her eyelids fluttered open. Everything was hazy so she slowly sat up, resting on her elbows. She was lying on a bed with pristine white sheets and everything around her was dark, it was as though it was only her and the bed that was bathed in light; everything else was pitch black. How very strange, she thought. Usagi turned her head slightly to the right and noticed a figure on the floor beside the bed. It was a man, his head was bowed, as though in prayer, and all she could see was his shiny black hair. She reached out to stroke the silky mass and his head raised slowly. Her breath caught in her throat as the man smiled reassuringly at her. "I?ll be back for you Usako, I swear it." "Nani?" But she could say no more when he rose and his lips brushed against hers in a soft caress. He backed away and the back of his hand stroked once over her cheek. "Fear not, my love. Everything will be alright," and with that he disappeared slowly and she moved to go after him but she was stuck. She could not move from the bed and she was held immobilized as she watched him fade into the darkness. "Usako..." "Iie!" Her eyes shot open and met the worried face of a girl with red hair. "Eeek!" She stifled a scream and scrambled back from the teenager. The other girl had been crouched on her knees next to her and now looked at her just as shocked. They stared at each other, both on the floor of Usagi?s room, neither saying a word until Usagi broke the silence. "W-Who are you and what are you doing in my room?" she asked, breathing heavily. The girl continued to stare until another voice broke through. "For Kami?s sake, say something or we?ll be here till the end of time!" Usagi was hard pressed not to scream again when she realized that there was a cat next to the girl and it had been the one to talk. "Oh yeah, gomen Lynn. Hello Usagi-chan, don?t you remember me?" "T-That cat talked!" Oh Kami, she was sounding just like her mom now. "Only Artemis and Luna can talk. And then there?s Diana, but that cat?s not Diana. Diana is gray and that cat?s a calico. And you, you?re not Chibi-Usa, Chibi-Usa has pink hair, you have red hair, yet it?s tied up in odangos just like mine and-" "Princess, it?s me; Chibi Chibi." Usagi abruptly shut her mouth and then opened it again as she spoke in a whisper, "Chibi Chibi?" "Hai, but I?d prefer it if you?d call me Mika, that?s my name now." "Mika? Oh, oh, Chibi Chibi!" She rushed forward and enveloped the girl in a big hug as she began to weep uncontrollably. Mika could do nothing else but wrap her arms around Usagi and look questioningly at Lynn. "What do I do now?" she mouthed to her guardian who could only shrug in that way that cats can shrug. After a few moments, Usagi straightened and wiped her eyes, still sniffing. "I?m sorry Chi- I mean Mika, it?s just that I?ve missed you so much. And look at how much you've grown!" (Patch an: as Bethany would say, "she pulled a Saturn." Get it? LOL!) "I guess I had an amazing growth spurt." Usagi laughed in reply even though tears still fell from her eyes. Suddenly remembering how she had found the Princess, Mika put her hand on Usagi?s. "Are you okay? You were on the floor when I came in. I was so afraid." "I-I?m fine," she answered, her head down. "Actually I?m not fine," she said, raising her head as fresh tears began to well up. "I?m not fine at all and I don?t know what to do. I can?t take it anymore." She covered her face with her hands and began crying. This time, Mika scooted over to Usagi and embraced her. "It?s okay, you can tell me. I?ll listen." "Oh, it?s such a long story. What are you doing here, by the way?" Mika grinned for a moment, "I?m a Senshi-in-training." Much later, Mika and Lynn stared in astonishment as Usagi finished explaining all that had happened. "Kami-sama Usagi-chan, I-I didn't know!" Tears streamed down the younger girl?s face and she tried to wipe them away. They were still sitting on the floor and all of a sudden, Mika enveloped Usagi in a fierce hug. "Thank you for telling me," she whispered. "I know it must have been hard for you." "It was and still is, but you had to know and...well, better it be me to tell you than someone else, right?" "Hai." "So tell me, how come you?re here as a Senshi-in-training?" "Well, it?s somewhat similar to what Chibi-Usa had to do. Galaxia- chan felt that it was time for me to learn and understand my responsibilities and strengthen my Senshi skills." "And Lynn is your guardian?" "Hai, that I am. I?m here to keep this one," she said, motioning to Mika, "from getting herself into trouble." "Lynn! I can take care of myself," the cat gave a snort and Mika turned red. "It?s true! Well, I?m sure Usagi-chan would love to know how you?ve secretly been hoping to meet Luna and Artemis after all the stories I?ve told you about them." It was Lynn?s turn to look embarrassed but they both stopped when Usagi spoke. "So you two were sent here to stay with us then?" "Hai," Mika answered, "but none of us knew all this had happened! Honestly, Usagi-chan, I wouldn?t have come at a time like this to be more of a burden." "Oh no! Don?t think that," Usagi cried, getting up, Mika following. She stopped when she saw the roses again. She stared at them for a bit but then turned to Mika with a sad smile. "I need some cheering up and I think I need all the friends I can get right now." Lynn jumped on Usagi?s shoulder and rubbed her cheek against her face. "We?ll always be there for you." "Right! So can we go see the other Senshi now? I can?t wait to see their faces when they realize who I am." Usagi laughed at the picture that came to her and pulled Mika out the door, Lynn following them. As they walked down the sidewalk, Mika began skipping sideways, Lynn on her shoulder, hanging on for dear life. "So do you and Rei-chan still fight with each other? I remember how she used to chase after you with a broom." Usagi laughed a little as memories came back to her. Kami, it felt so good to laugh again. "We still have our arguments over little things but Rei-chan has let up on me a bit. She says that I?m finally showing some maturity, but I say that she?s...." something caught her eye across the street and she didn?t finish her sentence. Instead she stopped, her body stiff and tense. The Kale?s Diamond store was right across from her. But it wasn?t the shiny jewelry in the display window that had caught her attention. It was the man that stood there, his back to her. One hand was placed on the glass as he leaned forward slightly. From where she stood she could somewhat see his reflection on the window. Could see his blue eyes, turbulent yet piercing. She stepped forward a little and somewhere in the back of her mind she could hear Mika?s voice calling her. But that wasn?t important right now; all she had to do was take... just... one... step... A truck roared past and she yelled when she felt herself pulled backwards and fall to the sidewalk. "Usagi-chan! What were you doing?" "Iie, let me go! I just saw... I just saw..." "Saw who?" Her voice cracked as she whispered one word, "Mamo-chan." Mika and Lynn could only share a troubled look. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Aiyeeee! No! It can?t be!" "Baka!" Rei hissed, "You?ll bring my roof down if you scream any louder!" "But this is our little Chibi-Chibi! Look at how much she?s grown!" Minako gushed, "I can still remember when all you used to say was ?chibi-chibi?. Just those two little words!" Mika blushed and looked down as Lynn looked on in glee. "Minako-chan, you?re embarrassing the poor girl. Enough already," Makoto said. "Gomen, gomen. This is just so cool!" "So you?re here as a Senshi then?" Ami asked. "Hai. On behalf of the Star galaxy, I?m ready to punish all evil-doers here on Earth!" She did a Sailor Moon pose and everyone laughed. "I?m sorry to break it to you Mika-chan, but there haven?t been any ?evil doers? for some time now," Ami said. "Oh, you can?t be serious!" "She?s right," Rei said, "after Galaxia we?ve only had a few strays here and there. Maybe, just maybe, you?ll get lucky." As everyone continued to talk, Luna noticed that Usagi had been silent ever since she had come in and was now sitting in the corner away from everyone. Luna had thought that Usagi was improving but now it appeared as though she was back in that depressive state, a state she hadn?t seen since those first few days after Mamoru?s death. "Usagi-chan, daijabou?" At first she didn?t reply and Luna was about to repeat the question. However before she was able to do so, she heard Usagi speak ever so quietly. "I saw him." "Nani? What are you talking about?" "I saw him, Luna. I saw him; he was standing right there, in front of me. I could have gone right up to him and-" "Stop it Usagi-chan! Stop it!" Usagi looked at her guardian, startled. Luna hadn?t raised her voice to her in a long time. "You are doing nothing more than torturing yourself." "Demo..." "No, Usagi-chan, please don?t do this to yourself. I hate to see you like this. Whoever you saw, it wasn?t Mamoru-san. It?s not possible. You miss him so much that you?re just seeing him in other men who may look similar to him. Don?t do this Usagi-chan, please, I want you to be happy again." Usagi let out a choked sob and hugged Luna to her, "Thank you Luna," she whispered, "thank you for being there and looking out for me." "I?ve got a great idea!" Minako burst out. Everyone stopped talking and looked towards her expectantly. "This new club is holding its grand opening tonight. It?s supposed to be the coolest thing around. I say we all go check it out." "Minako-chan, that?s a great idea!" Makoto said. "Who knew you had something intelligent under all that blonde hair?" "Mako-chan!" The girls laughed and Ami spoke. "I think it?s a great idea too but how are we going to get Mika-chan in?" "Oh that?s no problem, me and make-up are best friends!" Minako said airily, "In no time I?ll have Mika-chan looking like a 20 year-old." "Just please, don?t make her look like a woman with a questionable background," ignoring a glare from the blonde, Rei went on, "Usagi, you?ll be coming too, won?t you?" "I don?t know..." "You have to come!" Mika said, her eyes pleading, "You need to get out a little and it wouldn?t be the same without you." "I guess I could go..." "You are definitely coming Usagi-chan, I?ll pick you up at your place around eight." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The club was dark and noisy. It seemed as though all of Tokyo had come out tonight. Usagi stood in a corner, a drink of some sort in her hand. She took occasional sips and watched as people talked and laughed around her. Her friends had tried to pull her onto the dance floor but she had declined, saying she needed a drink. So here she was with the sound of people having a good time echoing in her ears. Everyone was having fun...except her. She was alone - so alone. But I can?t think like this, she thought, I have to live. But live for what? She couldn?t take it any longer. The air, the people, the music, it was suffocating. The lights began to flicker in front of her eyes and she backed further away from them, breathing heavily. And then it happened. It was like a spark deep within her. It was a feeling she couldn?t describe, but it scared her. She began to sweat and clutched the glass in her hand. A pair of strong arms came around her waist and she felt a light breathing against her ear, causing her to shiver. "Usako... my love." She stiffened and the glass fell from her hand, shattering to the floor. No one noticed, except for those close to her. She whirled around and nearly fainted when her eyes met deep blue eyes. No! It couldn?t be! He stepped forward and she sprung her hands out, shaking her head wildly, her eyes fearful. "Iie! Stay away from me!" she backed away and as he took another step towards her she turned around and ran. She ran out of the club and the cool, fresh air invaded her senses, making her dizzy. She had to get away, she was going crazy! She ran, not caring where she was going. She stopped suddenly and realized too late she had run onto the road. Headlights blinded her eyes and it was in slow motion that she saw the car heading towards her. Frozen, held immobile, she watched it speed into her and as the pain consumed her, she heard her name. "USAKO!!!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *barely misses objects thrown by readers* EEEEEEEKKKKKKK! Don't look at me! It was Patch!! *looks innocently at Patch* But, before you start chasing her with a broom, please notice that you are only on chapter 1 and you have 3 more chapters... then you can throw things, ne?? ^_^ <3 ya! Bethany & Patch