Chapter 6: Visitation
Visitation
The sunlight streaming through the window woke Celeste early the next morning. Shielding her eyes with her arm, she pulled the curtains closed. Checking the time on her watch, Celeste stumbled into the bathroom.

She and Setsuna had spent the majority of the night talking. Celeste was interested to know how each of the princesses were doing. She was happy to learn that Michiru and Haruka had been reunited, but she was concerned when she heard that Serenity and Endymion were together as well.

“But, Setsuna, didn’t you have feelings for Endymion?” she had protested.

Setsuna had smiled, but the smile was bittersweet. “Endymion and Serenity are destined for each other. Who am I to challenge fate, Celeste?”

Celeste jumped into the shower, grateful that the splash of hot water was waking her up. Setsuna had promised to meet Celeste in the lobby of the hotel in time for them to be at the hospital at the start of Makoto’s visiting hours. She had enough time to get ready.

Despite the hours of sleep she had gotten, Celeste was still jet-lagged. Drying her hair, she sat down at the desk, turning on her computer. She pulled the collar of her robe tighter against her neck as the air conditioner came on.

She quickly went to her e-mail, glancing through her mailbox. Surprised to find something from Jonathan so soon, she opened the message. She laughed uncontrollably at the image of a young man being slapped repeatedly with a fan owned by a large woman in a kimono.

I hope things are great in Tokyo. Let me know that you are okay. Beware of the sushi. --Jonathan

‘How much can I tell him?’ she wondered, drumming her fingers on the desk. ‘I can’t open this with ‘Hi, Jonathan. Japan is great. Guess what? I’m a reincarnated warrior from the Moon Kingdom.’ That definitely wouldn’t work.’

Deciding to be serious, she started her letter. ‘Be truthful but don’t reveal everything you know,’ she thought. Her fingers began to fly across the keys.

Jonathan, hi. I got your card and it was hilarious. So far I haven’t encounter any women in kimonos, but I will be on the lookout. I'm pretty jet-lagged but functional. Setsuna and I are going to spend the day together, visiting some of her friends. We’ll see how it goes. I will tell you more later, when I can. --Celeste

Assured that the message was sent, she shut the computer down. Celeste began to dig through her suitcase, trying to decided on what to wear. She gave up on trying to be fashionable and decided on a pair of jeans, a light green sweater, and her tennis shoes.

‘At least I will be comfortable,’ she thought, as she put on the clothes. She returned to the bathroom. She dried her hair and braided it. Then she brushed her teeth and put on her lip gloss, the only make-up she wore.

Grabbing her watch and her purse, she realized that she had just enough time to get to the lobby to meet Setsuna. She quickly turned off the lights and locked the door behind her. Slipping the key into her purse, she headed for the elevator.

* * * * *


Celeste fought the urge to rub her arms as she followed Setsuna through the maze of hallways of the hospital. She always felt a bit of panic in hospitals. Forcing herself to stay calm, she almost collide with Setsuna when the older woman stopped outside a room.

“Celeste, are you all right?” Setsuna asked, her violet eyes studying her companion. “We can leave if you want. You do not have to stay.”

“I’m fine,” Celeste said. “I really want to see Makoto.”

“Okay, but if you feel like leaving, just tell me.” With a final concerned look, Setsuna opened the door and stepped inside. Celeste followed.

The tall brunette in the bed was surrounded by machines. A series of various beeps indicated that several monitors were keeping track of the patient’s condition. The woman’s face had three cuts that required stitches, numerous scrapes, and a huge bruise along her right jaw.

Her right wrist and forearm was encased in a cast, while its mirror was almost entirely wrapped in gauze bandages. The light blue hospital gown seemed to enhance her pallor. From the chest down, she was covered by a navy blue blanket.

“Any change?” Setsuna asked in Japanese, drawing Celeste’s attention to the other occupants of the room.

A blonde girl with pigtails sitting not far from the bed shook her head sadly, her eyes never leaving the inhabitant of the bed. The tall, dark-haired man standing behind her, tightened his grip on her shoulders. Turning his attention to Setsuna, he asked who Celeste was.

“This is my friend, Halley Celeste,” Setsuna replied, gesturing to her. “She is visiting me from the United States.”

“From the United States?” he repeated in English. “I went to college there for a while. My name is Mamoru Chiba.”

The girl with pigtails looked up at him in confusion. “Mamo-chan?” she whispered.

“It is a pleasure to meet you,” Celeste replied in Japanese. She noticed the glimmer of surprise in his eyes.

“I am Tsukino Usagi,” the blonde girl replied, studying Celeste. “I didn’t realize that Setsuna-chan had any friends.” Realizing her blunder, she quickly added, “From America, I mean.”

“Setsuna-chan does enjoy her secrets at times,” Celeste replied, drawing an censorious look from Setsuna. “It is nice to meet you, Usagi-san.”

“Please, call me Usagi-chan. Any friend of Setsuna is a friend of mine,” she said.

The door opened revealing another girl with long, blonde hair and a girl with short, blue hair. Both seemed surprised to see Celeste and quickly entered the room. Exchanging glances, the new arrivals turned and looked at Setsuna expectantly.

“This is my friend, Halley Celeste, who is visiting from America,” Setsuna explained.

“An American? Wicked cool!” the blonde exclaimed in English. “I’m Aino Minako,” she said, extending her hand. “You can call me Mina. I used to live in England but I've never been to America.”

She gestured to her blue-haired companion. “Ami-chan here is very smart and knows English as well. Mamoru-san,” again she gestured, “went to college in America for a while.”

“Yes, he has already told me. Nice to meet you, Mina-san.”

“I am Ami Mizuno. It is a pleasure to meet you, Celeste-san.”

Celeste bowed politely to her. “Likewise,” she replied in Japanese. “But, please, can you call me Celeste-chan? The other seems so formal.”

The girl nodded. “Of course. Then you must call me Ami-chan.”

Ami turned to Mamoru. “Any changes?”

“No, she's still in a coma,” he replied, turning everyone’s attention back to Makoto.

“We can’t get any response from her at all,” Usagi said.

Someone knocked on the door, and a nurse entered the room with a clipboard. “A lot of visitors today,” she remarked, studying the instruments that surrounded Makoto. “That’s the best thing for her right now.” With that comment, she scribbled on her clipboard and left.

Celeste was surprised by the quick visit. Noticing her expression, Mamoru smiled slightly. “The doctor was in here an hour ago. He did a pretty thorough examination.”

“How long have you and Usagi-chan been here?” Setsuna asked.

“Since six o’clock last night,” Usagi replied.

“I wouldn’t let the nurse kick us out,” Mamoru added.

“She was nice enough to bring us pillows and blankets,” Usagi retorted.

“Usagi-chan, you can’t keep this up,” Ami said, her concern evident. “You can't go to school and be up here all the time. You have to take a break.”

“Ami-chan’s right,” Minako stated. “You are going to make yourself sick at this pace.”

“I have to be here,” Usagi said softly. “I need to be here for Mako-chan.”

A series of beeps echoed in the room. Ami quickly excused herself and left the room. Within moments, she stuck her head in the door. “We are needed,” she said simply and disappeared into the hallway once more.

With one more look at Makoto, Usagi rose and headed to the door with Mamoru. “It was nice meeting you, Celeste-chan,” she said.

“I will be with you in a moment,” Setsuna informed the pair. Mamoru nodded and ushered Usagi into the hallway.

“What’s going on?” Celeste demanded once the door was closed.

“Can you stay here with Mako-chan?”

“Yes, but where are you going?”

“I’ll be back in a while,” Setsuna said and left the room.

Sighing in frustration, Celeste took Usagi’s chair. She studied Mako, watching her chest rise and fall as she breathed. “Why you, Mako-chan? Why did they chose you?”