Chapter 23: Awakening
Awakening
She felt warm, surrounded by softness. Her first real thought was how different it was from the drafty, stone fortress. With a yawn, she stretched and slowly opened her eyes.

“Hi,” Celeste greeted softly with a dreamy smile.

Jonathan’s face broke out into a broad grin. “Hey.”

“Where am I?”

“Mamoru’s apartment.”

She gave another yawn, her eyes already drifting close again. “Thank him for me.”

“Will do, ma’am,” he replied, knowing that she was asleep once more. He pulled the blanket higher and smiled at her contented sigh. Resisting the urge to even kiss her forehead, he silently left the room to tell the others about her condition.

* * * * *


“Celeste-chan,” the blonde girl named Usagi demanded, pointing excitedly at the bedroom door.

Her words came in a mad rush, but Jonathan only shook his head in confusion. The girl pouted, frustrated by the language barrier. The man sitting next to her on the couch laughed.

“If you had studied harder, you may have been able to talk to him now, Usako,” Mamoru teased, running his fingers through her hair affectionately.

“You’re so mean,” she cried, her sulk becoming worse. “Please ask him about Celeste-chan, will you, Mamo-chan?”

Jonathan watched the exchange with a puzzled expression. He didn’t know anything about Japanese, eternally grateful that some of the group knew English. He waited patiently for Mamoru to translate.

“She was asking you about Celeste-san,” Mamoru explained. “Has she woken up yet?”

“Briefly,” Jonathan replied with a nod. “She wanted to thank you for letting her stay here.”

Mamoru quickly translated Celeste’s condition to Usagi. Her blue eyes lit up and she gave a squeal of delight. She gave Mamoru a quick kiss and ran out of the room, jabbering the whole time.

“She’s going to tell the others,” Mamoru explained. “This place is going to crammed with people soon.”

“I don’t doubt it,” Jonathan replied. “I also wanted to thank you and the others for your help.”

Mamoru shook his head. “That’s just the way Usagi-chan and the others are. They would do anything for a friend.”

“She’s a special person,” the American stated.

Mamoru’s eyes focused on a nearby picture of him and his girlfriend. “She’s one of a kind. I couldn’t imagine life without her.”

With a slightly embarrassed smile, he turned his attention back to Jonathan. “Would you like something to eat? I think I may have some food left.”

“Maybe after a while,” Jonathan answered. “I think I go back now.”

“Please, feel free.” Mamoru glanced at his bedroom door. “She’s very special, too.”

“I know.” Jonathan shut the door behind him.

Mamoru thought about the two Americans now in his bedroom. He wondered if something would develop between them, something deeper than the budding friendship they now shared. Thinking about his own experiences with Usagi, he smiled and silently wished the pair lots of luck.

* * * * *


Celeste finally managed to force her eyes open, immediately looking at Jonathan. Realizing that she was awake, he smiled and leaned closer. Gently, he brushed some of her hair from her forehead.

“Hi, stranger,” he greeted.

“Hello to you, too,” she replied. “If I am dreaming, don’t wake me up.”

“Actually, we were debating on whether to douse you with ice water to finally make you come to.”

Rubbing her eyes, Celeste sat up. “How long have I been out?”

Jonathan glanced at his watch. “About thirty-six hours.”

“Thirty-six hours?! What have you been doing all this time?”

He gave a sheepish smile. “Mostly sitting in here. However, Mamoru and Ami have been kind enough to help fill me in on what has been going on. I hate to think about what you suffered to help me.”

She shook her head. “Let’s not talk about it right now, okay, Jonathan? I’m just not up to it.”

“All right.” He gestured with his head to the door. “Everyone is camped out in the living room, waiting for you to wake up. Want to go say hi?”

Celeste glanced down, realizing that she was dressed in her normal clothes. “When did I change back?”

“I don’t know,” he replied. “You would have to ask Usagi or Setsuna. Are you ready?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

He helped her throw the blankets back and watched her swing her legs over the edge of the bed. She rose slowly to her feet, swaying so much that he grabbed her to keep her from falling. She gave a weak smile.

“Maybe this isn’t such a good idea,” he stated.

“I’ll be fine,” she countered. “I was just a little dizzy.”

Jonathan supported her as they crossed the room to the door. As they entered the living room, Usagi gave another squeal. She immediately embraced the other woman in a tight hug, chattering happily.

Celeste smiled, conversing briefly before the others demanded their turns. Soon everyone was laughing. She was surprised that everyone hugged her, including Michiru and Haruka.

“It’s nice to have you back, Sol,” the tall, blonde woman stated, giving her a resounding smack on the back.

“It’s nice to be back.”

Everyone soon parted as Setsuna approached. The two just studied each other for a moment. Then, the Time Guardian stepped and embraced her in a hug.

“You do have a way of making my life interesting,” Setsuna said.

Celeste gave a small laugh. “Well, someone has to keep you on your toes.”

Ami walked over to Jonathan, watching the exchange between Setsuna and Celeste. “I guess that you will return to America soon.”

Jonathan shrugged. “I don’t know, Ami. It’s really up to Celeste.”

* * * * *


A few days later, everyone was gathered outside Mamoru’s apartment building. The girls were giving Celeste their final goodbyes, with pleas for her to write and several hugs. Jonathan occupied himself by helping Mamoru load Celeste’s luggage into his car. Due to his unusual arrival in Japan, Jonathan had very little to take back.

“Okay, it’s time for us to go,” Mamoru announced.

Jonathan thanked Minako and Ami for helping him by translating. With a final wave, Jonathan and Mamoru got in the car. Celeste gave Setsuna one last hug.

“I know I am going to see you again, Setsuna,” she said, repeating her first goodbye to the Time Guardian, “so I won’t bother with goodbye. I’ll see you later.”

“Later, Celeste,” Setsuna replied with an amused smile. She watched Celeste get in the passenger seat of Mamoru’s car. With a final smile and fighting tears, she closed the door.

“I’ll call you when I get back,” Mamoru told Usagi.

The blonde girl nodded. “Take care, you two,” she said in accented English. With a final wave, she stepped away from the curb.

Celeste leaned back into the front seat with a sigh. Some much had happened to her since that night she had tried to walk home from the public library. She had discovered part of herself and a subsequent past that she had never dreamed of.

More importantly, though, she had finally found herself surrounded by people who cared for her. Granted, most of them would now be living an ocean away from her. Yet, she knew that they would keep in touch.

Jonathan leaned forward and held the hand that she had let slipped back behind her. She glanced over her shoulder and their eyes locked. She would not be returning home alone. Grateful, she squeezed his hand.

With a smile, he gently released her hand. He quietly retreated further into the seat. Celeste turned her eyes to the passenger window, hoping that Mamoru wouldn’t notice the faint blush on her cheeks.

Despite his best efforts, Mamoru couldn’t hide his knowing smile.