Ah springtime! A time when
a young man's fancy turns to love...or at least that's what people say
but whether or not its true is a whole other story!
My
name is Mizuno Ami and my sign is Virgo. I was born on September
10th and my mother is a famous doctor. I had aspirations
of one day being like her when I grew up but something happened that
changed my life forever!
I
guess you could say it all started one day when Tuskino-san and I had
just gotten out of school for the day. I was heading to the Alto
Seminar when Usagi suggested stopping at the Hikawa Shrine to visit
Rei-Chan. I wanted to protest because of the time that I had missed
Cram School for her pajama party but agreed under the condition that
it was just a brief visit. Usagi agreed and off we went.
When we got to the Temple Rei was sweeping away the leaves that had
fallen and smiled as we appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Konnichiwa
Usagi-chan!" She exclaimed as Usagi approached and greeted me with
the formal "Mizuno-san" as she became quick to use whenever
around me. I guess it only seemed fair as I always used formal
greetings when I met up with the girls for the whatever we did.
As I came closer Rei seemed to blush a little bit. This happened
a few times since after the costume party when we helped Tuskino-san
take down the youma and Rei and I had a kind of "Heart to Heart"
as some would call it. Since that day whenever she saw me something
seemed to come over her and I alwaus seemed to wonder if she was coming
down with a sickness. Usagi on the other hand was always oblivious
to it as was the case today
"How
have things been around here Rei? Been busy at all?" Usagi
asked and Rei just politely said no. Ever since the incident with
the missing girls and despite the fact that her name was cleared of
any wrong doing there were people that still didn't like her for thinking
she was "cursed". Usagi and I both knew differently
but it was always hard to convince Rei to do certain things. Would
you believe she still refuses to do karaoke?! If anyone should
be paranoid about Karaoke it should be me but I sang in front of Naru
and Usagi and it didn't bother me one bit.
Sorry...went off on a bit of a
tangent there!
15
Minutes past and we helped Hino-san for a little bit before I headed
off to the Seminar leaving Tuskino-san and Rei-san alone. Usagi
waited for just as I disappeared down the stairs to get to asking Rei
about her "unusual behaviour". "Rei-chan"
Usagi began "what's up with you and Ami?" She asked matter
of factly and Rei's head shot faster than a lawn dart! "Nothing
Usagi. Why? What do you THINK is up?" Rei asked pointedly
and this caused Usagi to take a step back for a second.
"Oh
no I wasn't trying to imply anything Rei-chan but it seems whenever
Ami's around you get a little...flushed I guess is the term." Usagi
explained and Rei knew that when Usagi made her mind up about something
there was no changing it. "It's just...I don't know how to
explain it Usagi. Ami's a good girl and her life is not one anyone
should have to go through. Not her, not Mako-chan ,not anyone!"
Rei exclaimed and this left Usagi in some serious thought. What
did Rei know that Usagi didn't? Usagi was going to press on but
thought better of it and went home to eat dinner.
That
night while I was at the Seminar I couldn't help but glance at a picture
that was taken of Hino-san and myself at an amusement park. Usagi
had convinced us that it would have been wise to go have fun and "not
worry so much about Senshi Business for a day". I agreed
that it would be nice as did Rei and we all had a ball. Rei won
this huge stuffed bear and gave it to Usagi while I stuck to some of
the "tamer" rides and let them be. As the day wore on
Rei asked me to go on the Ferris wheel with her. I agreed and
Usagi was a little struck dumb this although so was I even though I
agreed to do it because it is one of the rides that usually is a lot
of fun to do at the end of the day.
As
the ride came to a stop Rei was asleep on my shoulder. This wouldn't
have been TOO awkward except for the fact that the next group that was
going to get into the car was wondering what was going on. THAT
group had Motoki, Makoto and Minako in it!
And people wonder why I don't
do things like this often
Back
in the real world and the class went by with a flash. I aced the
mock test that the teacher gave and went home without incident.
No Youmas, nobody sneaking up on me and no worries! When I got
home it was empty like normal and I headed for bed. Life was as
it should have been!
That is...until two days later!
What happened you ask? Well
I'll tell you!
So
class had adjourned for lunch and I went to my usual space on the roof.
I was reviewing some of the material from class when I saw Rei's number
show up on the Cell Phone. "Moshi Moshi" I said politely
while wiping my mouth of the sandwich crumbs that had stuck to my face.
"Good Afternoon Ami" She began "I was wondering...could
you come over to the Temple after you get done school today? I
want to talk to you about something." She explained and while I
wanted to say no she had stated that it was for AFTER cram school ,so
I agreed to go see her then.
The
rest of the day was a complete blur and if you asked me to tell you
all what happened I honestly don't think that I could tell you all that
was covered. When I got to the shrine Rei was looking up into
the stars when she saw me at the top of the steps and politely greeted
me as we took our seats on the platform she was sitting on before I
came.
"Ami"
She began "have you ever...thought about what its like to be in
love?" She finished and I had to actually think about this one.
This wasn't a question I normally dealt with but when I came up with
a satisfactory answer I responded to her inquiry. "No Rei
I honestly haven't. I've been busy with school and when we fight
our enemies helping you guys out that it never really occurred to me.
Is something wrong Hino-san?" I asked not realizing where this
was going to go.
"Ami...I
think I'm in love with someone. The problem is that...I don't
know how to tell them and I'm scared of what their reaction might be.
You understand where I'm coming from right Ami?" She asked and
I nodded. I never thought I'd have this kind of conversation with
Hino-san as the closest we had to anything like this was a conversation
about just working together as Senshi back when the Silver Crystal was
out there. Where was this going?
"Hino-san...I
know how hard it is for you to open up to people. When we fought
the Youma at the party I remember that you didn't want to sing because
you aren't a fan of it. The fact that you confide in me a lot
is something that I will always honour and cherish. If you need
anything from me you know I'll be there for you." I told her as
I got up and patted her on the shoulder before leaving the Temple for
the night. Little did I know that soon Hino-san and I were about
to start something special!
The
next day was an interesting day as I didn't have cram school but Luna
called and there was a Youma attacking at one of the local train stations
and going towards T*A School! I quickly changed and made my way
there with Usagi in tow and when we got there the monster was heaving
bodies that it had sucked the energy out of and it looked like a massacre
just minus the blood! Rei saw the bodies and transformed herself
as we had a three on one advantage against the creature. What
none of us accounted for was the shear fact that this was a powerful
monster indeed and deflected all of our attacks leaving the walls worse
for wear. Little did we that one of US was going to be feeling
about the same in a minute!
This
occurred when Mars used the Youma Taizan but got it bounced back.
The problem was that when it got deflected it came in my direction so
quick that I flew through the glass and crashed through one of the desks!
The last thing I could honestly remember before I blacked out was hearing
the clatter of footsteps which meant the others had arrived. The
black void that I entered at that point in time was eerie and I had
wondered if I was going to leave it when I heard a voice sitting next
to me.
"Ami-chan...Ami-chan
wake up please!" I heard the plea of one individual and when I
awoke I saw Hino-san sitting in a chair next to the bed. The surroundings
were a lot different than if I home or even Usagi's...was I...in her
bedroom?! "Rei...oooh!" I said as the effect of crashing
through the desk had not yet subsided. "Oh God Ami thank
God your ok...THANK GOD!!!" Rei nearly yelled almost in tears and
I did what I could to console her. I know that it was a pretty
hefty blast that I took and even I wondered if I was going to make it...but
this was one reaction from someone like Rei that I never expected!
"Rei...how
long..." I was cut off by Rei's finger on my lips as she spoke
"You took a nasty shot from a Youma at my school and we all wondered
if you...were..." Rei trailed off and I felt bad for her.
This however brought me back to that conversation we had before and
the time on the Ferris Wheel and THEN it all started to click for me.
"Rei I have something I want to ask you." I told the priestess
and she sat at attention waiting to hear the question "When you
said you were in love with someone...let me ask it this way. Is
it a girl you're in love with?" I asked and Rei just politely nodded
before I continued "Is this girl someone we both know?" I
asked again and then she started smiling which meant I didn't have to
ask the next question because she did it for me.
"I
promised myself I would never fall in love recklessly Mizuno-san."
She started "But when I met you and we had that talk that day at
the costume party something...started to change I guess is the best
way to put. I'd sometimes sit in the fire room and just meditate
and the look on your face was one of innocence and yet also acceptance
and understanding. You were so genuine that I wondered what it
would be like to be closer to you relationshipwise. When you got
captured by Kunzite and brainwashed to fight against us I wondered if
there was ever going to be a chance to tell you how I really felt.
When you came back to our side I was so happy that I felt like Usagi
when she became reunited with Endyimon and I wondered aloud how to tell
you about my feelings." She explained and I put out a hand to brush
away the tears that were streaming down her cheek. She was a good
person and she deserved as much in return. I had to tell her the
truth.
"I
felt the same way Hino-san. I also know that we are the same in
the manner that we are alone a lot more that we should be. Sure
we have Usagi and the rest of the senshi but Makoto has Motoki and Usagi
Mamoru. I know the feelings you have are genuine and I wanted
you to know that...I love you Rei Hino. I love you with all of
my heart and soul and I will do whatever I can to help protect you when
the time comes." I finished and Rei just broke down in tears as
she placed her head down on the bed and I sat up and stroked her hair
gently.
It
would be a day or two before I could return home but I helped Rei out
around the temple and smiled as we had breakfast together for the first
time not just as Sailor Senshi but as a couple. When Usagi came
over and we told her the news she was extremely happy for us and we
were relieved. True Usagi is one of the more accepting people
we knew but this was something that caught the two of US off guard never
mind the rest of the crew. As the day went on the other two girls
came over to congratulate us and we just smiled politely and thanked
them. As night fell over the shrine and we spent the night together
in Rei's bed there was one thing she said that forever rang true
"Love is always a furious
flame"
And hers was never going to be put out!