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Naru, My Friend
Part 3
By: Usa and Emiri
Disclaimers in Part 1
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Ami and Makoto walked over to Usagi as Naru walked away. "What did she have to say?" Ami asked.

"She wanted to give me these... I didn't want to accept them, they're her favorites, but she was so insistant." Usagi sighed. "I am so confused, Ami-chan, Mako-chan. She was so upset with me last night. Now it seems as though she still likes me..."

"Maybe she realized you did what you could," Makoto suggested, "and the earrings are a way of showing her she understands you."

"I'm not sure about that one, Mako-chan," Ami said. "Ne, don't you think it was weird that she was wearing long sleeves today, Usagi-chan?"

Usagi blinked. "I hadn't even noticed. I was so shocked that she was even in school that I didn't even see what type of shirt she had on, Ami-chan."

"How much did she like those earrings, Usagi-chan?"

"They were most treasured possession because her papa gave them to her on her 10th birthday. They were his mom's. He died a few days later..."

Ami's mouth opened, and she covered it with her hand. "Do you know where Naru was going after school?"

"Home, I guess," Usagi replied.

"What are you thinking, Ami-chan?" Makoto asked.

"Well...I took a course on depression and suicide prevention...two of the most common signs of a person being suicidal are giving away treasured posessions, and masochism."

Usagi's heart skipped a beat. *Sucide...* 

"Wh-what's masochism, Ami-chan?" she asked nervously.

"When somebody hurts themselves purposely...I don't think Naru would wear long sleeves when it's this warm unless she had something to hide."

"Masaka!" Usagi gasped, running out the door.

"Usagi-chan!" Makoto followed her out. 

"Matte!" Ami ran after them, almost forgetting her school sachel.

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Naru locked the apartment door behind her. Nobody could disturb her now. It was almost time...she'd soon be joining Nephrite on the other side. She was glad that she had made peace with Usagi today. She had always been her best friend, even if she had let the man she loved die. 

Naru found some paper, and hurridly wrote a goodbye letter for whomever to find. Then, she went to the bathroom, and swallowed several handfuls of various pills. Soon she was dizzy, and she felt her legs giving out from under her. She stumbled back to her bedroom, and collapsed on the bed. Her vision faded away, then all was black.

***

Usagi ran up to Naru's apartment and knocked on the door. There was no reply for five minutes. She found the key under the welcome mat and unlocked the door. "Naru-chan!" she called.

She searched the kitchen and the bathroom and finally she came to Naru's bedroom. The door was slightly ajar. Usagi knocked and slowly entered. "Naru-chan? You here?"

Ami and Makoto had caught up with her by this point, and followed behind.

"Naru--" Usagi stopped in her tracks. Naru was lying face down on the floor. She rushed over to her friend. "Naru! Naru, wake up!"

The young girl wasn't responding. Usagi looked up at Ami and Makoto. "Ami-chan, she won't answer me!" 

Ami bent down to find a pulse, fearing the worst. She picked up her wrist, and felt nothing. Frantically, she felt her neck. Nothing again. "Kami-sama..."

"Ami-chan?" Usagi whispered, her eyes full of hope.

Ami looked up at her. " Gomen,Usagi-chan..."

"Iie! You're wrong!" Usagi cried. "Naru-chan! Wake up! Ne, come on! We gotta go shopping, Naru-chan!" Usagi was sobbing now. "Onegai..."

Makoto put her hand on Usagi's shoulder, not knowing what else to do.

"This can't be happening! She's not supposed to die! We're supposed to be in each other's weddings! Why! Naru-chan!!"

Usagi took a deep breath and with an anguished cry, she screamed. "IIIIIIIIIIYYYYYYYAAAAAAA!"

After calming down,some what, Usagi spotted a piece of paper in her friend's hand. She picked it up. Opening it, Usagi recognized Naru's handwriting immediately.

'Please forgive me for doing this, but it had to be done. The one person I was living for is gone and I can't be here knowing that he isn't. Usagi, I now know how hard you tried to save him. I didn't mean to hurt you last night and I don't mean to do it now... but I just had to be with him. Mama, I love you so much. I will always think of you...
Love,
Naru'

Usagi's hands shook as she read the letter. She stood up but immediately fell to her knees. She had the worst feeling in the pit of her stomach. She would never again go shopping with Naru, never talked to her about how annoying Umino was, never talk about nothing for hours... Naru was gone, and so was a part of Usagi.