Music Box
by happyhappysunshine
Chapter 1 - Gone
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Naru woke up in her own bed, disoriented and confused until reality set in and she felt her heart break all over again. She had hoped it was a dream, or rather just a terrible nightmare, but she caught a glimpse of the shining music box. The drapes covered her room so that it was still very dark, and she had no idea what time it was but still, the music box shone brilliantly.
Just then, a knock on her door and her mother walked in, her face sad and worn but relieved.
"Naru," she said tenderly as she took her daughter in her arms and stroked her hair, "Sailor Moon brought you home last night and told me not to ask what happened, so I won't. But please, you'll be okay. I am here to take care of you."
Naru sobbed quietly into her mother's embrace, but said nothing. She thought of words she could say to let her mother know what she was feeling but no explanation could express the loss of complete nothingness she seemed to feel.
For the next few days, Naru slept and cried and slept and cried, speaking only short answers when her mother spoke to her. Naru liked to be asleep and slept for as much as she could. Then, she was able to forget reality. Then she was able to immerse herself in a world where she was magic to her. There, she was able to be with Nephrite.
Yet every time when she woke up, she would realize again it was all a dream and the tears would start and the music box would play until she would sleep again. Many times she contemplated following him to where he went. Many times she had come close to doing it. She would sit on her balcony where he had stood that one time, and looked below wondering how long it would take her to fall. Ultimately she decided against it, fearing that wherever she went would not be the same and then she would be stuck forever without him. If she stayed alive at least, there were always dreams.
Her mother watched her worriedly, making her eat and trying to keep her company yet Naru would always beg that she didn't want to see any of her friends who came to visit and only wanted to be left alone.
Mrs. Osaka never asked what happened for fear of upsetting her further, and Naru never told her.
Usagi was very worried about Naru and went to go see her several times, but each time Mrs. Osaka apologized and asked her to come some other time when Naru was feeling better.
Meanwhile she still had to cope with the responsibilities of being Sailor Moon and dealing with the attacks of the Negaverse. The greatest battle was about to take place and so Naru was the least of her worries.
The Sailor Scouts pursued their duty to fight against the Negaverse and Queen Beryl in order to save both Tuxedo Mask and the future of the universe. They fought, and there was a moment when all seemed lost yet the tremendous power of love was victorious.
And then, it was all gone. Each memory of every battle, of ever monster and of every triumph was locked away in the mind so that no one remembered any of it at all.
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